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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 1:34:36 GMT
Has anyone had any experience with swords made by Angel Swords. I've seen them for sale at Renaissance Faires but I'm not sure about them.
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Marc Ridgeway
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"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jun 24, 2009 1:58:33 GMT
Here we go... I'm not a fan of Mr. Watson, his swords or his tactics... but he sure knows his way around a law suit...
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Post by genocideseth on Jun 24, 2009 2:15:04 GMT
Agreed with Marc.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jun 24, 2009 2:22:10 GMT
I have not had any experience with either the company or the swords but there are three things that have kept me away from them: 1. they claim some pretty far-fetched things. 2. their prices. 3. their reputation. I've spoke to one person (via internet) who owned an angel sword and he said it was a wonderful sword. I've seen lots of small things that make me think they'd be excellent swords for $300 or maybe even $500 but not for the incredible prices they ask. also when I look at their katana I can see that they have no clue how to build a proper katana. that is my opinion and my guess, maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
if you do buy an angel sword please put it to the test and tell us and show us all about it. I'd love to see one reviewed by an enthusiast with lots of experience in swords.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 5:31:17 GMT
Saw one...saw the price and laughed as I walked off. For 500-1000 bucks they would be okay FANTASY swords(they do look pretty nice and the metal work is pretty good), but the pile of sales crap I got was laughable at best and down right illegal at worst. Not historically accurate swords in the least (at least not by design...they may have one that kinda sorta fits by accident).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 11:14:37 GMT
Saw them at the Atlanta Blade Show a few years back......picked a couple up...saw the price...put them back down in a hurry...quickly walked away......
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 13:49:01 GMT
Someone posted here in SBG that Angel swords were as durable as you can get; I take that to mean they're tank-y. That might work for some but it does nothing for me. Add to that, the infamous lawsuit that basically caught the high-end forum and hamstrung'm still stings (still not sure what happened, no one talks about it)...given the history, I'm not inclined to pursue one of these swords for any purpose.
I would, however, love to see the review if anyone does get one.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jun 24, 2009 14:24:40 GMT
some of their claims are really outrageous too. I mean I could maybe square with the fancy Cyro quench that they claim they do (invented?) being a good thing, but they claim to have unlocked the secret of making true wootz using modern methods. they call it something like neo-wootz if memory serves. yeah, ok, whatever guys. *rolls eyes and walks away*
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Marc Ridgeway
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"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jun 24, 2009 14:36:28 GMT
Oh the SFI lawsuit isnt the whole of Daniel Watsons liitgious adventures... he tries to patten smithing techniques as old as smithing itself, and then sue craftsmen using the techniques... its simply sad... and yes the claims of "living steel" andd cryo are over the top snake oil semprini.
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Post by septofclansinclair on Jun 24, 2009 15:31:59 GMT
The less said in this thread the better... Marc had it right at the beginning with that awesome picture...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 17:51:42 GMT
Has anyone done any destructive testing/extensive general testing with one of these? Is there a link? They have this one video on the website, but it tells absolutely nothing at all. He bends the blade like 270 degrees (yes, you read that right), but then it just breaks. Doesn't show how far it could go before setting or anything like that...
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Post by randomnobody on Jun 24, 2009 18:28:38 GMT
I believe what Tom is looking for is the term "techno wootz," though for all I know he may also have or now be calling it "neo wootz" and while I'll admit the steel shows some nice patterning, that's all I'll grant it. I've seen the same patterns in swords hundreds of years old, so yeah.
Other than that, I won't say anything on the fellow or his product, save that they are not to my taste, aesthetically if nothing else.
I'm surprised he has a video of one of his blades breaking, even after 270 degrees. As far as I know, there are no "destructive tests" of any of his blades; most being of the mind that driving a Ferrari just to crash it into a brick wall is almost as good an idea.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 19:07:46 GMT
LOL @ neo wootz
I just don't see the point.
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Post by shadowhowler on Jun 24, 2009 19:29:53 GMT
Ah yes, Angel Swords... Marc's 'Can o Worms' pretty much somes it up. I actually like the look of some of their peices... they look like functional fantasy insipred weapons, which is what I love. There are a few of their peices I really like the look of. However, I have never had a chance to handle anything from them.... they have never bet at a RenFaire I've been at.... so I don't know how the peices FEEL. I'm not a fan of what I know of Mr. Watson's stance on copyrights and trademarks. As Marc said, it seems to me that he is trying to claim ownership of some basic blacksmithing/metalworking techniques and prohibit others from using said techniques without his permision. I read a thread once awhile back where a guy was twiddling around with some different ways of making a knife, and he made one he really liked. Upon describing to everyone what he had done (so they could try themselves) Mr. Watson came along and said 'It seems you acidently came upon my pattented "Techno-Wootz"(TM) processes. I will permit you too contenue to make weapons with my method for a period of 5 years as long as you aknowledge that it is mine and buy me a beer.' Well, the guy thought that was BS and said piss off, I made it, you didnt tell me how to make it so it's not "your" processes, buy your own beer.' and Mr. Watson proceded to threaten to sue, blah blah blah. There are other cases like the one above, thats just one example. That aside... I *MIGHT* consider buying one of his work... as I said, some of them look right up my alley and I'd LOVE toreview one, I have not seen an indepent test/review of one of these swords EVER. However... they are SO damned expensive that it's not remotly cost effective to do so. They range in price from a dagger for 300-500 to some of the swords I like I have seen as expensive as 22k 22k?!?!? Yikes. As was said above... I think something that expensive no one would do a destructive test on. I recal Firehand... who used to post here quite a bit but faded out... he still posts very actively on SoM forums... he liked Angel Sword, had handle some of their stuff at Faires... I can not recall if he had a couple peices from them (I think he did) or if he just wanted to get some from them... but even he never did a review of one. I would LOVE to see a good review of one of their swords... like Tom said, they make some pretty BOLD claims and I'd love to see them put to the test.... I'd love to be the one to do it... but they are way, WAY overpriced. Even if they were as good as advertised, which I find hard to belive but one never knows... I would still think many of them are a bit overpriced. Anyway, thats my $0.02
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 19:31:03 GMT
Someone posted here in SBG that Angel swords were as durable as you can get; I take that to mean they're tank-y. That might work for some but it does nothing for me. Add to that, the infamous lawsuit that basically caught the high-end forum and hamstrung'm still stings (still not sure what happened, no one talks about it)...given the history, I'm not inclined to pursue one of these swords for any purpose. I would, however, love to see the review if anyone does get one. That was probably me, and only hearsay. I merely read a discussion on an UK sword board about the most durable sword, and the discussion flowed in the direction that Angelswords were even hardier than Howard Clark L6, but that the technique, shape and fittings were as far as you can get from traditional. Again, I know nothing but hearsay, and with the exception of that thread I have heard nothing positive of them.
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Post by enkidu on Jun 24, 2009 19:42:47 GMT
They better be though as hell... i just saw their website and their prices are... lets say astonishing... seriously, none of their designs seems to be worth half the price they are listed. Maybe they do make some good products, but at this price range i'm sure you can get way better.
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Post by shadowhowler on Jun 24, 2009 19:44:52 GMT
They better be though as hell... i just saw their website and their prices are... lets say astonishing... seriously, none of their designs seems to be worth half the price they are listed. Maybe they do make some good products, but at this price range i'm sure you can get way better. Yeah... thats the problem in a nutshell for me. I like the look of some of their stuff, and am currious about it, but at the prices they are asking, I have so many other options it's silly.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2009 0:40:42 GMT
That is rediculous! There is no way that their swords can be that much better than other swords, it just doesn't make sense. I have seen some beautiful custom swords for around $6000 that function great, but I can't see anyone paying 15k for a stock inventory sword that probably doesn't function much better than other swords.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2009 2:06:04 GMT
PT Barnum any one? ? I read about his "Neo Woots" and other black smiths actual found out how it was really made and with what elements, his process came close, but no cigar!!! ................SanMarc.
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Post by kidcasanova on Jun 25, 2009 5:39:09 GMT
The only thing I will say is that, in the testimonials page, someone claims they can fillet a business card with their "Bright Knight Katana."
Really.
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