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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 3:33:15 GMT
The one I scored on MR's deal of the day showed up today! Actually, I had to pick it up at the depot. It would have been here yesterday. I need to snap some pics and post them up with my initial impressions, because I noticed a few strange things.
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Post by shadowhowler on Aug 12, 2009 3:39:11 GMT
The one I scored on MR's deal of the day showed up today! Actually, I had to pick it up at the depot. It would have been here yesterday. I need to snap some pics and post them up with my initial impressions, because I noticed a few strange things. Strange things eh? Color me curious...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 4:06:07 GMT
The sheath smells like horsesh*t. Not figuratively, but literally.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 4:24:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 7:33:30 GMT
Ah, that's a strange shame there, especially on the sheath o.O
M.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 12:14:31 GMT
Congrats on the new sword, as for the tarnish part its easy to polish up. Just pick up some metal glow (MR has it) and go with some elbow grease. I've used metal glow for quite a few tarnished things and it works dam good. Funny thing is it even looks tarnished in the MR pictures on there site. www.museumreplicas.com/p-232-gladiator-sword.aspxand it's back up to $125.00 again so I think you did good. As for the slightly off center problems,for the price you got it I wouldn't complain to much it looks like a nice sword. You say "to look carefully" to see it,so I wouldn't think it's really really bad. For me as long as it handles well and you like the feel,I would be happy with it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 13:01:46 GMT
All of this is typical for Windlass swords. As it is only cosmetic, I wouldn't worry about it. They are actually more historical because of that.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 14:29:17 GMT
WTF? A lopsided blade is cosmetic?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 14:30:41 GMT
It looks like the guard is also crooked.
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 12, 2009 18:05:05 GMT
WTF? A lopsided blade is cosmetic? Ultimately, yes. Whether the blade is even or not, by width from spine, isn't really a big deal on its performance. There are plenty of weapons designed with two edges where one is substantially wider than the other, they still work fine. The degree by which you indicate seems to me, well, acceptable in a forged and mounted blade sold for $100-150. Especially one made in India. The rest, yeah, that's Windlass for you. Again, I'd chalk it up to India. India is to Western swords as China is to Japanese swords, after all. Except being a bit more expensive... I think a lot of what we're seeing here does a fine deal of showing us why these were on such a great special.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 19:18:02 GMT
I had a Windlass 15th century longsword with a tang closer to one edge than the other and I was upset about this and its flexibility and some other things so I traded the sword but soon after that I realised that I expected too much from Windlass. In the Records of the Medieval Sword I read that many viking single edged and some double edged swords and some later sabers had tangs closer to one edge than the other. So it isn't a problem for functionality and is relatively common on hand forged swords...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2009 21:22:12 GMT
The sheath smells like horsesh*t. Not figuratively, but literally. Maybe a horse ate it he he Could be the leather wasnt cured as well as it could have been, that would be a simple explaination.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Aug 12, 2009 23:47:47 GMT
Pretty cool little stabber. Congrats. I'd be antiquing the brass if it were mine anyway, so, score! If you want to get it all dark you can use gun blue.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 2:16:38 GMT
How about vinegar?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 4:37:02 GMT
Nevr Dull also works nicely for cleaning up tarnish, I've found. Seems like you got a good deal, but Windlass sure has trouble getting fittings even. One side of the guard on my type XIV is 1/8" longer than the other, but it took me about 6 months to notice it. I don't even want to think about what could be causing that smell.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 5:16:52 GMT
I guess all I can do is call MR tomorrow and ask if they can hand pick one for me and exchange it. This isn't lackluster QC, this is horrible.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 8:49:43 GMT
All of this is typical for Windlass swords. As it is only cosmetic, I wouldn't worry about it. I agree. Welcome to the world of Windlass swords. They typically have very well-tempered blades and are solid swords, but the hilts often require some tinkering by the end user, and fittings, grinds, etc. are sometimes not very precise. I love Windlass and think they do very well for their price range, but a few quirks are to be expected.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 13:03:12 GMT
As krieg said...their blades tend to be worthy, but the rest are a crap shoot when it comes to quality. I've had some really decent Windlass swords, and I've had some real stinkers.
When it comes to the Last Chance sale, it isn't always about discontinuing a model...sometimes they just want to offload the less than stellar inventory they have. If you don't like it, trash the fittings and make it a project blade.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2009 22:14:47 GMT
If you don't like it, trash the fittings and make it a project blade. Not a bad idea. Or, you could also mod the existing fittings to suit your tastes. Either way, I believe this model has a threaded pommel, so it should be fairly easy to mod or rehilt, if you so choose.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2009 21:23:41 GMT
Congrats on the new sword, as for the tarnish part its easy to polish up. Just pick up some metal glow (MR has it) and go with some elbow grease. I've used metal glow for quite a few tarnished things and it works dam good. Funny thing is it even looks tarnished in the MR pictures on there site. www.museumreplicas.com/p-232-gladiator-sword.aspxand it's back up to $125.00 again so I think you did good. As for the slightly off center problems,for the price you got it I wouldn't complain to much it looks like a nice sword. You say "to look carefully" to see it,so I wouldn't think it's really really bad. For me as long as it handles well and you like the feel,I would be happy with it. Hey, where do I buy some elbow grease? I'm also out of headlight fluid... (Are there any RvB people out there?)
The mirror finish is always a nice touch. Is it sharp at all? I take it that this is more of a thrusting blade than a slasher? That giant tip seems to make it obvious . Minus the defects, it looks like a cool sword!
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