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Post by ShooterMike on Sept 12, 2009 21:21:32 GMT
Here is a quick goofball video I threw together showing how well Gus Trim's Courtrai Falchion can cut. I am most impressed with the power and performance of this beast. The handling bespeaks plenty of power, but at the same time it's very subtle and graceful. It is capable of massively powerful chopping strokes. But it can be easily used for quick snap cuts and various rapid multi-directional series of cuts and defensive maneuvers.
I didn't waist any time with single or double-rolled tatami mats. Instead, since I only had 5 mats I rolled 4 of them into a single 40-lb (wet) roll and tried it out. Then I used some small pieces of a single mat from some previous cutting to test it's tip cutting and quick strike possibilities.
The edge on this falchion is what I would describe as "armour appropriate" in that it has a lot of meat to its edge and the sharpness is not quite up to slicing paper. But it is a very strong edge that will last as-is through a lot of abuse.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 23:18:18 GMT
That's definately a powerful weapon. I imagine that it would have delt serious damage to mail-clad warriors.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Sept 13, 2009 3:52:04 GMT
that sure was some heavy cutting Mike. I love the big rolls but my target expenses fund does NOT. cutting mats that big on a regular basis could break a guy financially.
falchions, were they used interchangeably with messers or are they an entirely different animal?
cool stuff Mike
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2009 5:08:54 GMT
I do believe that's the first time I've seen a video of four tatami mats being cut. Awesome stuff, it shows why these weapons were so popular back in the Middle Ages. I wonder how it would compare to Albion's Vassal?
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Post by shadowhowler on Sept 13, 2009 5:26:41 GMT
Awesome stuff Mike... I personaly really like the Atrim Archangel Falchion... have you ever had a chance to check that one out?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2009 20:20:01 GMT
Nice cutting and nice sword Mike. It seems to cut very well in your capable hands.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2009 23:21:45 GMT
that sure was some heavy cutting Mike. I love the big rolls but my target expenses fund does NOT. cutting mats that big on a regular basis could break a guy financially. falchions, were they used interchangeably with messers or are they an entirely different animal? cool stuff Mike They're quite similar early on, and follow very similar paths of evolution, from the thin, broad blades at the beginning to the saber-like blades of the 16th and 17th centuries. A key difference is the lack of the nagel on the falchion. It is essentially a flange or ring that protects the large knuckles at the base of your fingers. Several methods of defense with the messer rely on this nagel. Interestingly, the falchions on the Cortrai chest are all of the Invalides type; I wonder why he chose to call this the Courtrai? M.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2009 3:35:40 GMT
Good god, give this man a gambeson, shield and war-hat and send him to the fray ......... he'd come back from the flak for sure ......... gotta praise the power of the falchion.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2009 10:24:56 GMT
Mike,
"impressive" would be a slight understatement. What a sword! But I'm positive it doesn't cut all by itself. Very nice cutting. Thank you for sharing. +1.
-s.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2009 11:15:08 GMT
It looks like it handles very well . You have sparked my interest in that ATrim Falchion. Great Dragon Head Cutter. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by ShooterMike on Sept 14, 2009 15:18:10 GMT
...Interestingly, the falchions on the Cortrai chest are all of the Invalides type; I wonder why he chose to call this the Courtrai? M. Interesting observation. This comment spurred me to go investigate for myself. All the photos of the chest clearly show that distinctive chopper/crusher type. None more clearly than this one. Note there are three fighters armed with falchions and they are all very similar. Gonna have to ask Gus the next time I talk to him why he chose this name...
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Sept 14, 2009 15:26:33 GMT
oomph, man that's scary. It's just brutal, what this thing can do. I must go find the spec sheet for it. I wonder about weight, POB etc.
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Post by ShooterMike on Sept 14, 2009 15:45:41 GMT
oomph, man that's scary. It's just brutal, what this thing can do. I must go find the spec sheet for it. I wonder about weight, POB etc. Brenno, Weight of this one, with the slightly heavier custom guard which has a long pointed cusp at the ecussion, is 2 lbs 8 ozs. The blade length is just shy of 25.5 inches. PoB is at 4.75 inches. The distal taper is non-linear. It starts at 0.260" at the guard, tapers to 0.190" at the mid-point, then to 0.180 just behind the "peak", with rapid taper to the tip. At an inch behind the tip it's only 0.085" with a very effective slicing profile. As a comparison, and to do some testing on another sword, I made a few cuts on this roll with my very sharp AT1509 longsword (same as Kristie's review here). My best two-handed cuts with the 1509 barely made it to the center of the core on this 4-mat roll. The slices only went about a quarter of the way through.
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Post by YlliwCir on Sept 14, 2009 15:46:50 GMT
Mike, that thing was made to cut, hey? Well done.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Sept 14, 2009 15:52:51 GMT
Wow, so it's still pretty light indeed. A balanced blade presence, not too biased, and a broad sweet area for cutting, with the same spec over a large area for predictable performance across the second half of the blade, and the fine tip makes those tip cuts very effective, all for shearing cuts with the thrust firmly in the back seat. Very cool device Actually can I ask. It has such long bevels, whch helps keep the weight down in conjunction with the fuller and the early distal taper. Regarding edge geometry. Do the long bevels keep the shallow angle right into the edge, or has he left an little appleseed secondary bevel, so as to profide meat behind the edge, to reinforce it and spread the target as it cuts. I wonder cos with such long bevels theres the opportunity for an overly fine edge area if it had a katana type grind, without that slight secondary steepness. That could cut like a razor but lack in durability.
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Post by ShooterMike on Sept 14, 2009 16:02:14 GMT
Actually can I ask. It has such long bevels, whch helps keep the weight down in conjunction with the fuller and the early distal taper. Regarding edge geometry. Do the long bevels keep the shallow angle right into the edge, or has he left an little appleseed secondary bevel, so as to profide meat behind the edge, to reinforce it and spread the target as it cuts. The long bevels keep the shallow angle until about 0.050" from the edge. Gus did a distinct secondary bevel, but I rolled it into more of a strong "appleseed" convex edge. It's shaped much like the illustration of katana sharpening that demonstrates a LOT of niku for a sword made for battle. One thing I left off the video, that I didn't film... I tried a few cuts and "chopping thrusts" with the back edge. Sort of a maneuver where you would slam shields together and make an underhanded slam with the tip into your opponent's buttock/upper thigh at the back. Every time I tried this on the 4-mat roll, the sharpened false edge sunk all the way to the blade's peak. It left a huge gaping "wound channel" of sorts. And with the blade sunk into the target it could be used as an embedded lever since the blade is so extremely rigid. Almost like a pry bar. Sounds brutal huh? IMO, Gus has a real winner with this blade. It's compact and nimble, yet extremely powerful. I LOVE IT! I'm in line for another scabbard from Brian at DBK. This is the sword I am getting that scabbard made for. And if/when I get another chance to hunt wild hogs with a dog, this sword is going along.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Sept 14, 2009 16:16:25 GMT
The way you've modified your bevel sounds about how I do mine. I don't know all the Japanese Jargon but I like to keep a soft but definite appleseed secondary bevel to them, for durability and to spread the target. It may not make quite the razor but I think it's the most practical blend. But I definitely transition the bevels gently and sand it all down smooth. But I put in a lot of drawfiling and hand sanding on a cork block. I believe Gus keeps with the belt finishing.
Thanks Mike! I can't wait to see someones Fable in a DBK scabbard some day soon. There's a couple of Maz Scabbards coming for Shadowhowler's. That'll be cool.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 6:12:00 GMT
That courtrai image has the reverse falchion designs on them doesnt it, like the type Tinker has good skill at making. Man I wish the Hanwei Tinker line did a reverse falchion. A totally un tackled area.
Also are they carrying bucklers by the look. Which would lead one to believe it would be used with similar skill illustrated with I:33 and othe sword and buckler texts. That could be intriguing ........ makes one think of the evolutuion of the messer somedays.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 10:08:53 GMT
yeah, yeah ,yeah.....as usual, great sword, great cutting ,but the best things about this one......... Hawkwind!!!!! have heard that in ages......that was the band Lemmy of Motorhead was before Motorhead.........Lemmy rules! thanks Mike for another "killer" video
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 21:21:02 GMT
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Stonking Bowie knife you've got there Shooter.
Good job on that whopper roll !
dxr
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