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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 2:19:54 GMT
I ordered a new ATrim I-Beam from KoA the other day. It arrived today just before I left for work. If you are considering ordering one, wait...here is why...
When I unpacked my I-Beam, I found a couple issues with it that makes me not such a happy camper.
The first issue is that out of the box, the blade has a obvious convex set to it - a bend right at mid-blade that puts the blade out of alignment with with guard. Over the length of the sword, this set is probably 1/2 of an inch - so its a pretty big deal. I don't see how this made it past QC.
The second issue is that the grip was wrapped pretty badly - the seam overlaps and sticks up 1/16" of an inch and there are loose bulges at each riser where the glue did not adhere the leather to the underlying cord. Not such a big deal, but it would be for someone who did not have the resources to replace the grip leather.
I have sent a letter to KoA asking for a replacement I-Beam. The grip I could fix, the blade is a deal breaker though.
Just tossing this out there in case anyong was thinking about buying one of these in the near future. I am sure that this is just an instance of a bad egg, but I'd wait until I got this sorted out to see what happens.
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Post by ShooterMike on May 29, 2009 2:35:20 GMT
Bummer. These things happen sometimes. I have actually gotten a sword from Gus that, during shipping, took a set and a twist. I know it was straight when he sent it because he'd been doing drills with it for 2 weeks around the shop before boxing it up. But the temperature changes or pressures or phases of the moon or just bad JuJu caused it to bend and twist around its axis during shipping. Gus is replacing that one. But he scratched his head for weeks trying to figure out what caused it once he got the sword back. I also got a second hand Albion Norman that took a set in shipping from Tom to me. I'm sure it was straight when he sent it. But when I got it the blade was a 1/2 inch out of line at the tip due to a set about mid-blade. I hung it in the sun for a few days and it straightenend out. It's been fine ever since. Lastly, when my first VA Practical Longsword arrived, the blade and the scabbard were warped in the middle postion so that the tip was 3-4 inches out of alighment. Sonny looked at it when he sent it. But the shipping fairies somehow got the scabbard to warp so bad that it bent the blade. I have heard similar tales about other swords from almost every maker. So, all that rambling to say, uh... it happens? I wouldn't judge the brand badly from that experience. And you know KOA and Sonny Suttles will both bend over backwards to make you a satisfied customer. But I still want to hear how it goes. And how you like the blunt once you get a good one.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 2:41:22 GMT
I am sure that it will get dealt with, so I am not worried there. If I knew Sonny was going to be at the Blade Show, I would take it to him when I go Sunday to let him have a look at it. What really sucks is that I was going to be sparring this weekend with it.
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Post by Sonny Suttles on May 29, 2009 2:44:07 GMT
Hello Odingaard,
Send me Contact info through PM at SBG or sales@valiant-armoury.com. That way I can replace the Sword direct without it going back to KOA and then to Valiant then back to KOA then to you.
Sonny
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Post by shadowhowler on May 29, 2009 2:45:33 GMT
I also got a second hand Albion Norman that took a set in shipping from Tom to me. I'm sure it was straight when he sent it. But when I got it the blade was a 1/2 inch out of line at the tip due to a set about mid-blade. I hung it in the sun for a few days and it straightenend out. It's been fine ever since. You set it out in the sun a few days and then straightened it out?!?! What kinda hippy sword fixing is THAT?!?
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Post by Sonny Suttles on May 29, 2009 2:49:39 GMT
What really sucks is that I was going to be sparring this weekend with it. Use it anyway this weekend if you like and then send it back. The handle is cord wrapped below the leather so the handle should not be an issue. It's up to you. Sonny
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Post by shadowhowler on May 29, 2009 2:52:01 GMT
Sonny Suttles to the rescue again... we should get him a cape. ;D
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Post by ShooterMike on May 29, 2009 2:52:25 GMT
Hello Odingaard, Send me Contact info through PM at SBG or sales@valiant-armoury.com. That way I can replace the Sword direct without it going back to KOA and then to Valiant then back to KOA then to you. Sonny I call that damned fine customer service. Just LOOK at the power of SBG Forum membership! ;D I also got a second hand Albion Norman that took a set in shipping from Tom to me. I'm sure it was straight when he sent it. But when I got it the blade was a 1/2 inch out of line at the tip due to a set about mid-blade. I hung it in the sun for a few days and it straightenend out. It's been fine ever since. You set it out in the sun a few days and then straightened it out?!?! What kinda hippy sword fixing is THAT?!? Heh, heh, heh. It was a recommendation from the "original sword hippy" himself (Grahame Angus "Gus" Trim). The second possibility was torch it just past straw color while straightening in a vise. I wasn't comfortable with that one.
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Post by shadowhowler on May 29, 2009 2:56:35 GMT
The second possibility was torch it just past straw color while straightening in a vise. I wasn't comfortable with that one. I have heard Gus himself straightens blades that way... and others have had sucsess with that as well. I'm thinking about giving that a try on a couple swords I have with very slight sets.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 3:00:15 GMT
Sonny:
PM sent with info. ;D
Everyone else:
There is no way in Hell I am taking a torch to any sword or mine. LOL. And as for the sun correcting a set, that is just the weirdest thing I have ever heard....well....concerning swords that is...
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Post by shadowhowler on May 29, 2009 3:04:56 GMT
There is no way in Hell I am taking a torch to any sword or mine. LOL. And as for the sun correcting a set, that is just the weirdest thing I have ever heard....well....concerning swords that is... ShooterMike has a way with swords tho... I bet he could whisper softly to a sword and it would sharpen itself for him. He has made insane cuts with some swords where, I got the same sword in my hand later and could not do 1/10 the awesome stuff he does. He's like the 'sword-whisperer' ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 3:18:12 GMT
I wish I had that much skill with swords; sadly, God only granted me that gift with women.
Such a shame... ;D
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on May 29, 2009 3:22:09 GMT
Straw colour is about 220C (450f) so it is cooler than your sword was tempered at to begin with. Thus it won't make it any softer than it was.
If you have a big enough oven you could put the blade across the front away from the heat source until it goes straw, then put it on a flat top, straighten it, and once wet it down to set it. If the bend is sudden you can put it in a vice then let it cool set in there. I have a jig made of 2 pieces of square section steel tube (each 2"x3"x 60") which I can clamp whole blades between to set them straight. It beats bending them backwards and forward until they find the centre.
Life would be so much easier if it didn't matter how straight a sword is. I can imagine back in the day when a simple man had his illegal hidden sword handed down from his forefathers, how many of them would have been truly straight.
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Post by ShooterMike on May 29, 2009 3:29:06 GMT
There is no way in Hell I am taking a torch to any sword or mine. LOL. And as for the sun correcting a set, that is just the weirdest thing I have ever heard....well....concerning swords that is... ShooterMike has a way with swords tho... I bet he could whisper softly to a sword and it would sharpen itself for him. He has made insane cuts with some swords where, I got the same sword in my hand later and could not do 1/10 the awesome stuff he does. He's like the 'sword-whisperer' ;D That's just CRAZY talk. I wish I had that much skill with swords; sadly, God only granted me that gift with women. Such a shame... ;D Wanna trade?... PLEEEEASE ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 4:41:25 GMT
As a sidenote to this my VA/Atrim Arming sword also has a very slight set to it. Personally I think this may be because the boxes they're shipped in are stood up vertically while in transit. This could also be why my scabbard has an obvious bend at the very tip of it. Perhaps all boxes should have a This Way Up sign on them?
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 14:53:47 GMT
Sorry to hear about it, but you gotta give Sonny his props; talk about excellent CS.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on May 29, 2009 15:46:11 GMT
Yup, there's just no way to say Sonny's service is anything less than spec-freaking-tacular. When Mike told me that sword had a set and a twist in it I thought he just had a better eye for subtleties in a blade and I had missed it (which, I'm sure, is also true) but a half-inch bend? yeah, I woulda seen that, that's BIG. so when you set this sword out in the sun Mike, did you leave it just with one side up, or did you flip it every day or so?
have you done any cutting with it? I'd love to see a video of that.
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Post by ShooterMike on May 29, 2009 16:54:22 GMT
I just laid it across a chair with the bend down so the weight of the tip would pull against the bend. Each day it straightened a little more. Then I hung it on the wall and it's seemed fine ever since.
I've cut with it 2 or 3 times. It has stayed straight even though I whacked my stand with it a few times.
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Post by shadowhowler on May 29, 2009 17:45:23 GMT
I just laid it across a chair with the bend down so the weight of the tip would pull against the bend. Each day it straightened a little more. Then I hung it on the wall and it's seemed fine ever since. I've cut with it 2 or 3 times. It has stayed straight even though I whacked my stand with it a few times. I would never have thought of that as a way to strighten a blade...
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Post by genocideseth on May 29, 2009 21:41:17 GMT
That is possible? I never thought something like that would even work!
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