Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2009 1:44:29 GMT
I've been hounding KoA since this was announced asking them when I could order. Soon as it hit their sight I grabbed one. Arrived today. I'm bummed out.  The real original  Good news is that it's pretty and shiny. It's gross weight is 2 1/2 lbs, with a CoB of just 2 inches from the guard for a 33 x 1.38 inch blade. Other words it moves well Bad News: It's one of them thar Windlass whippy blades. The bell guard attaches to the hilt furniture via two screw holes on either side of the blade. The holes were drilled off center by an eigth inch, so the guard is rubbing the blade and the quillions.  Beat the blade and you get this really annoying teletubby clatter declarative that, " I am a sissy man, and I fights mit a sissy sword". ;D Pictures to follow. I worked late, haven't eaten and there's one more workday to this week...    |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Dec 4, 2009 2:16:49 GMT
Dave:
Dang, that's upsetting. It looked quite appealing in a cut and thrust sort of way, with a decently compound hilt.
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SlayerofDarkness
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"Always give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Dec 4, 2009 2:25:04 GMT
Ouch!  Sorry to hear that...  At least you bought it from a good vendor though, so you can return it without any problems. ;D I'll look forward to the pics!  -Slayer |
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kurokaze
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Fur Ehre und Pflicht bis Herz und Klinge Bricht
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Post by kurokaze on Dec 4, 2009 22:40:28 GMT
That's a shame. There just aren't any good examples of that type of sword out there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2009 23:16:27 GMT
I don't know jack about swords, still learning, so I look forward to learning from those who know more. I had my eye on this particular model so I appreciate the heads up, just sorry you had to come by the knowledge this way. If I might ask, will you be returning the sword or trying to work with it?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2009 23:36:45 GMT
Hi:
As noted by all. Lot of folks are interested in this one. It is a real historical item, although the provenence made up by Windlass is wrong. This was the government issue Heavy Cav Sword of the Spanish Army 1760-1808 (when Napoleon obliterated the Spanish Army).
This is an interesting evolution of the rapier style. The Army sword was 44 inches with a 36 inch hex blade. Have yet to come up with stats on the original. There are few outside of Spanish museums.
The Windlass is a bastardization, but it's in the ball park, and it has the potential to be a fun cutter. ( I should have known I was in trouble 'cause MRL actual did a nice job of sharpening this one: so how come nobody noticed the stinker was misaligned??)
Bottom line. I'm gonna keep it and try to muffle the rubbing. It's unique ( I can't afford to buy a real one at 5k.) It actually is a nice handling and good looking piece. Let down because the musketeer rapier was so good, and this one stumbles.
Will post some pics later tonite. Don't feel like reviewing this formally, being pissed at this one out of true unit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2009 1:15:50 GMT
I just got my latest catalog the other day and was really stoked to see the Bilbo. What a bummer.  I can deal with whippiness on a broad cutter but not on a blade of this type. It's so beautiful. Why couldn't they get this one right?  |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Dec 6, 2009 22:54:03 GMT
Dave:
One more question---peened or threaded?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2009 2:07:05 GMT
Dave:
One more question---peened or threaded?
Can't "see" a peen, so it's probably threaded.
How 'bout that original version? I'll bet its at least a three pounder... ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2009 6:13:23 GMT
Could you elaborate a bit on the whippiness? How bad is it? (As in, if you strike the pommel with the butt of your hand, how far does the tip of the sword deviate from true) It still looks really nice. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2009 22:56:51 GMT
G'day Dave! Just a thought... Could you correct the problem by bending the counterguards slightly (The ones the shell is screwed to) towards the side where the rubbing occurs? That might be a simple way to solve the problem. I've been eying this sword myself- love the type!- but we don't have a Windlass distributor here in Oz, and the shipping adds a fair whack to the cost. Still, when I can afford to buy my next sword....  Keep us posted! Cheers Marc E |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2009 23:04:59 GMT
ha... I never saw that coming. Are they coming up with a "Frodo" model next?
(i'm sorry, that was probably inappropriate... but i just couldn't help it)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2009 0:58:44 GMT
Could you elaborate a bit on the whippiness? How bad is it? (As in, if you strike the pommel with the butt of your hand, how far does the tip of the sword deviate from true) It still looks really nice. Hmmmm. Do you own any Windlass broadsword blades? I have the Saxon Hilt and the Munich Civil Guard. They are similar in length and width and diamond gound (4 sided).
With gloved hands just easily beat the blade in your empty hand and feel the cavitation. For a mild pat I don't expect the blade to bounce very much, and these Windlass's do that. Worst of the three is the Bilbo. Just a thought... Could you correct the problem by bending the counterguards slightly (The ones the shell is screwed to) towards the side where the rubbing occurs? That might be a simple way to solve the problem. Thanks Marc. The screws holding the Windlass together are not as robust as the original. Given the punch holes are themselves misaligned I don't know if the bell guard will take the load on the pins without tearing. Was thinking I might make a leather plug for the whole opening and try to shim the blade off the guard. Would deaden the clatter some.ha... I never saw that coming. Are they coming up with a "Frodo" model next?  Not sure of the etymology of Bilbo as to weather the corruption is Spanish or English. The Bilbo refers to the city of Bilbao which outstripped Toledo in government sword making in the 17th 18th Century. There really is not A Spanish Bilbo, the term is generic to the output of the city's armorers.
( I would blame the English for the corruption. As example when the British succored Spain against Napoleon their soldiers met the Spanish paramilitary and asked what they called themselves. "Guerillieros" was the reply. It was too much for the anglo saxon tounge, thus the Spanish term for "warfighters" got turned into "gorillas" hows that for a mental image? ) |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Dec 8, 2009 2:19:55 GMT
Bilbos: Having just reread Micah Clarke, I am reminded that a "bilbo" is also a term for jail/gaol in 17th century England.
As for the Frodo model, it'll be darker, less fun, and with more of a martyr complex, and less fussing about second breakfast.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2009 3:06:57 GMT
This is a follow up.
I emailed KoA about the fit on the sword. They told me to send it back and they would give me my mony back. Wellllll... I don't really just want my money back; I want a decent Bilbo. (sniff, sniff)
Yesterday I emailed Windlass Steelcrafts and told them how great the Musketeer Rapier is and that I bought the Bilbo expecting another great replica, but it's been a bit of a disappointment. The form asked for a phone number. I put in my office number, never seriously expecting a call. Within the hour of transmitting my email I got a personal call from Panjeeb Windlass. (Which I missed. My nightwatch took the call.)
He followed the call up with an email. Send the Bilbo to MRL where it will be fixed or replaced.
It's a freebie. I don't feel compelled to do it for a low budget replica. I can shim the bad space and live with it. It's mosyly going to be a hanger queen anyway.
I just wanted to share with everyone the pretty stand up response I recieved to my emails.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2009 5:48:01 GMT
"Stand up" covers it nicely. It's no surprise to hear good things about KoA's customer service but I'd never heard anything one way or the other about Windlass'. That's pretty darned impressive and the sort of thing that makes me more likely to consider a Windlass sword in the future. Just not the Spanish bilbo.
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Post by Afoo on Feb 23, 2016 5:22:21 GMT
southernswords.co.uk/spanish-cavalry-sword.htmlRevive thread - there are apparently a few left here if you are interested. Given the recent decline in the British Pound, may be worth a look. Its been so many years, and still no other option in this price range... Sorry. Just...I was looking for discontinued Windlasses and was interested in this 0 figured other ppl might be as well :P
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Post by Turok on Feb 25, 2016 6:56:40 GMT
WHOA!!! You scared me Afoo! At first I thought the legendary Dave Kelly had deleted his SBG account! Then I realized that you revived a 7 year old thread from the old forums! (smack my own head...) |
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Post by ocdetails on Sept 20, 2017 18:00:47 GMT
Threads like this just go to remind me how valuable this forum is. I saw a sword listed for sale online in my local classifieds and it had a Windlass look to it. I think it's the way the pommel is configured. I have another rapier from them and it is similar. Anyway, I went to the interwebs trying to find anything I could that looked like this. Finally found this thread and was able to confirm that the sword being sold was indeed a Windlass sword. Not a bad purchase for $40. This is the second Windlass sword I've purchased in the last two months online where the seller had no earthly idea as to the value of the sword. Anytime you can get a two or three hundred dollar sword for $40, I say do it.
Anyway, thanks again to everybody who posted in this thread. It was a great help in doing research before I pulled the trigger. Nobody wants a $40 wall hanger, so finding this thread really helped.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Sept 23, 2017 4:04:13 GMT
Threads like this just go to remind me how valuable this forum is. I saw a sword listed for sale online in my local classifieds and it had a Windlass look to it. I think it's the way the pommel is configured. I have another rapier from them and it is similar. Anyway, I went to the interwebs trying to find anything I could that looked like this. Finally found this thread and was able to confirm that the sword being sold was indeed a Windlass sword. Not a bad purchase for $40. This is the second Windlass sword I've purchased in the last two months online where the seller had no earthly idea as to the value of the sword. Anytime you can get a two or three hundred dollar sword for $40, I say do it. Anyway, thanks again to everybody who posted in this thread. It was a great help in doing research before I pulled the trigger. Nobody wants a $40 wall hanger, so finding this thread really helped. Go for it. If the alignment issue still exists you can cut a leather washer and force it into place in the port. Worked for me. I found a better solution eventually:  Bought an original. The MRL is not bigger. Optical illusion. The original has a 3 inch longer blade (36 inches) |
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Sorry to hear that... 
At least you bought it from a good vendor though, so you can return it without any problems. ;D
I can deal with whippiness on a broad cutter but not on a blade of this type. It's so beautiful. Why couldn't they get this one right? 
Not sure of the etymology of Bilbo as to weather the corruption is Spanish or English. The Bilbo refers to the city of Bilbao which outstripped Toledo in government sword making in the 17th 18th Century. There really is not A Spanish Bilbo, the term is generic to the output of the city's armorers.
