Prototype ATrim XIIa bastard sword
Jul 4, 2010 3:31:04 GMT
Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jul 4, 2010 3:31:04 GMT
Angus Trim type XIIa prototype
A review by Tom Kinder
It is no secret I’m a big fan of Gus’ swords and that I occasionally get to review some as they become available but this sword is pretty special other than just being an awesome ATrim sword. This sword is a prototype but it is NOT a prototype for a sword that will be available on Christian Fletcher’s site. The fittings were not made by Christian nor did he wrap the grip. Gus did it all on this one and I think he did a great job but the news doesn’t stop there. This sword is part of a new line that Gus has been calling the 13th century Performance Line. I don’t know if that will be the final name of the line but whatever it is called it will be available from one place: Valiant Armoury. Gus and Sonny have deepened their relationship and considering just how awesome their past collaborations have been I don’t see any reason to think this arrangement will be any less awesome. I have talked to Sonny and he is very excited about his new arrangements with Gus and he has many plans to deliver the swordy goodness to us. Custom Sword Shoppe members can expect to see exclusive offers and discounts too. Christian is still on board with both Gus and Valiant Armoury, this change in direction for ATrim swords is in no way a divorce from Christian Fletcher, it is just the dawning of a new arrangement where Sonny will be handling the marketing and sales of Gus’ swords. Christian is still Valiant’s head designer and while I haven’t talked to Christian about it I would imagine this new arrangement will allow him more time to do his thing. All in all it’s one of those arrangements that seems like it is going to be a win-win. So, in the not-so-distant future the place to buy ATrim swords will be Valiant Armoury and the Custom Sword Shoppe.
First Impressions:
This sword immediately struck me as something on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Munition Grade swords I recently reviewed. This baby is Pretty! While beautiful, it still has that rugged “practical” look I would expect to see on the weapon of an experienced veteran. This sword means business and there ain’t no frilly stuff to distract you from that fact. The polish on this sword is as good as any I’ve seen including the Antioch, 1557, and the Albion Norman I had, which (in case you are new) means it is superb. It’s good enough that it’s one of the first things I noticed before I picked it up. However, once I picked it up all thoughts of finish went straight out of my head. This sword certainly lives up to the reputation Gus has built for himself.
Historical Overview:
Oakeshott’s type XIIa is an interesting type all in its own right. Originally the XIIa swords he had studied were placed in the type XIII category which he later decided was not right due to their profile being wrong for the type. As such the type XIIa is one of the smaller groups in Records, but yet it is the most well represented sword type in today’s production market from what I’ve seen. The type is identified by the gentle taper of its profile and the good sharp point combined with a wide, well defined fuller about 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the blade. Cutting is the main strength of the XIIa but it is designed to be a capable thruster as well. The variety seen in this sub-type is huge, however, ranging from gigantic war swords and “bearing swords” to fast little bastard swords like this one. Be it a big beast of a war sword or a fast little bastard, type XIIa seems to have captured the eye of collectors and cutters all over the world. There’s just something about the lines of a good type XIIa that makes people say “Now THAT is what I call a sword.”
Vital stats:
Weight: 2 pounds 12 ounces.
Over-all length: 44.25 inches
Blade Length: 34.25 inches
Blade Width @ Cross: 2 1/8 inches
Fuller length: 24.75 inches
Grip length: 7.5 inches
Cross Guard length: 8.25 inches (style 2)
Point of Balance: 3.75
The Blade:
The best word I can find to describe the shape of this blade is “subtle”. The flared shoulders are the only part that really stand out and catch attention, but look closer and you can see that this sword’s profile has about four distinctly different shaped areas: the wide and blunt shoulders narrow rapidly and abruptly shift into the main body of the blade that slopes gently in shallow a concave arc to somewhere on the other side of the fuller termination where it changes smoothly into a more aggressively tapering convex line until just before the tip where it shifts aggressively into sharp convex point. The blade is quite stiff for a type XIIa
Hilt/Parts and pieces
A simple type I pommel and style 2 cross guard adorn the hilt of this sword and they look great. The recess in the cross guard fits the blade well, the brown leather wrap is well done and attractive.
The grip is pleasing and easy to handle in one or two hands. From the cross to the riser the grip shape is mostly a flat-sided oval but after the riser it becomes more like a square with bulging sides and that progresses to an almost round shape right at the pommel. This change in shape helps encourage proper two handed grip while still allowing single handed grip to be used on the majority of the grip length.
The pommel is what I really like about this hilt though. While the corners are very well defined it has been polished in such a way that the characteristic spinning lines from the machines that made it are almost completely gone giving this pommel less of a machined look.
the style two cross guard is very clean, it's corners are beveled the slight taper and smooth finish making for a very attractive piece.
Handling and Cutting:
Now the Real fun!
This is the real reason everyone seems to love ATrims; it’s all about how they move. This sword is really interesting in handling. In two hands it is lightning fast and floaty, in one hand it can be smooth and quick if you hold it right at the top of the grip by the cross or it can be smooth and powerful if you grip it with the middle riser between ring and middle fingers. It can also be held at the extreme bottom of the handle with the pommel palmed and used this way to deliver very powerful cleaving cuts that could be useful from horseback or if extra reach is desired. This sword does a little bit of everything and can be good in every style from sword and shield to longsword but it is not the best sword for any of these things. it really is the jack of all trades but master of none sword. This is one of those swords that every time you swing it there’s a little bit of something different going on. I could spend a long time cutting with this sword and still find new ways to use it. Versatility is this sword’s strong point.
IN CONCLUSION:
Pro's: Superb handling, wide range of uses, attractive fittings, excellent polish, beautiful, and permanent peened assembly for those of us who like that sort of thing.
Cons: Price, not really great at any one thing, not yet available since it is a prototype.
The Bottom line:
If you can buy just one really good sword and you want to experience a lot of different styles of sword work this is a great choice because this one can do it all. Yes, I recommend this sword, especially to people who maybe don’t know exactly what they like best and want to try different things out. I have no idea when this sword will be ready for production but it indicates a new shift in the mid-level sword market that is going to have a profound effect.
A review by Tom Kinder
It is no secret I’m a big fan of Gus’ swords and that I occasionally get to review some as they become available but this sword is pretty special other than just being an awesome ATrim sword. This sword is a prototype but it is NOT a prototype for a sword that will be available on Christian Fletcher’s site. The fittings were not made by Christian nor did he wrap the grip. Gus did it all on this one and I think he did a great job but the news doesn’t stop there. This sword is part of a new line that Gus has been calling the 13th century Performance Line. I don’t know if that will be the final name of the line but whatever it is called it will be available from one place: Valiant Armoury. Gus and Sonny have deepened their relationship and considering just how awesome their past collaborations have been I don’t see any reason to think this arrangement will be any less awesome. I have talked to Sonny and he is very excited about his new arrangements with Gus and he has many plans to deliver the swordy goodness to us. Custom Sword Shoppe members can expect to see exclusive offers and discounts too. Christian is still on board with both Gus and Valiant Armoury, this change in direction for ATrim swords is in no way a divorce from Christian Fletcher, it is just the dawning of a new arrangement where Sonny will be handling the marketing and sales of Gus’ swords. Christian is still Valiant’s head designer and while I haven’t talked to Christian about it I would imagine this new arrangement will allow him more time to do his thing. All in all it’s one of those arrangements that seems like it is going to be a win-win. So, in the not-so-distant future the place to buy ATrim swords will be Valiant Armoury and the Custom Sword Shoppe.
First Impressions:
This sword immediately struck me as something on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Munition Grade swords I recently reviewed. This baby is Pretty! While beautiful, it still has that rugged “practical” look I would expect to see on the weapon of an experienced veteran. This sword means business and there ain’t no frilly stuff to distract you from that fact. The polish on this sword is as good as any I’ve seen including the Antioch, 1557, and the Albion Norman I had, which (in case you are new) means it is superb. It’s good enough that it’s one of the first things I noticed before I picked it up. However, once I picked it up all thoughts of finish went straight out of my head. This sword certainly lives up to the reputation Gus has built for himself.
Historical Overview:
Oakeshott’s type XIIa is an interesting type all in its own right. Originally the XIIa swords he had studied were placed in the type XIII category which he later decided was not right due to their profile being wrong for the type. As such the type XIIa is one of the smaller groups in Records, but yet it is the most well represented sword type in today’s production market from what I’ve seen. The type is identified by the gentle taper of its profile and the good sharp point combined with a wide, well defined fuller about 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the blade. Cutting is the main strength of the XIIa but it is designed to be a capable thruster as well. The variety seen in this sub-type is huge, however, ranging from gigantic war swords and “bearing swords” to fast little bastard swords like this one. Be it a big beast of a war sword or a fast little bastard, type XIIa seems to have captured the eye of collectors and cutters all over the world. There’s just something about the lines of a good type XIIa that makes people say “Now THAT is what I call a sword.”
Vital stats:
Weight: 2 pounds 12 ounces.
Over-all length: 44.25 inches
Blade Length: 34.25 inches
Blade Width @ Cross: 2 1/8 inches
Fuller length: 24.75 inches
Grip length: 7.5 inches
Cross Guard length: 8.25 inches (style 2)
Point of Balance: 3.75
The Blade:
The best word I can find to describe the shape of this blade is “subtle”. The flared shoulders are the only part that really stand out and catch attention, but look closer and you can see that this sword’s profile has about four distinctly different shaped areas: the wide and blunt shoulders narrow rapidly and abruptly shift into the main body of the blade that slopes gently in shallow a concave arc to somewhere on the other side of the fuller termination where it changes smoothly into a more aggressively tapering convex line until just before the tip where it shifts aggressively into sharp convex point. The blade is quite stiff for a type XIIa
Hilt/Parts and pieces
A simple type I pommel and style 2 cross guard adorn the hilt of this sword and they look great. The recess in the cross guard fits the blade well, the brown leather wrap is well done and attractive.
The grip is pleasing and easy to handle in one or two hands. From the cross to the riser the grip shape is mostly a flat-sided oval but after the riser it becomes more like a square with bulging sides and that progresses to an almost round shape right at the pommel. This change in shape helps encourage proper two handed grip while still allowing single handed grip to be used on the majority of the grip length.
The pommel is what I really like about this hilt though. While the corners are very well defined it has been polished in such a way that the characteristic spinning lines from the machines that made it are almost completely gone giving this pommel less of a machined look.
the style two cross guard is very clean, it's corners are beveled the slight taper and smooth finish making for a very attractive piece.
Handling and Cutting:
Now the Real fun!
This is the real reason everyone seems to love ATrims; it’s all about how they move. This sword is really interesting in handling. In two hands it is lightning fast and floaty, in one hand it can be smooth and quick if you hold it right at the top of the grip by the cross or it can be smooth and powerful if you grip it with the middle riser between ring and middle fingers. It can also be held at the extreme bottom of the handle with the pommel palmed and used this way to deliver very powerful cleaving cuts that could be useful from horseback or if extra reach is desired. This sword does a little bit of everything and can be good in every style from sword and shield to longsword but it is not the best sword for any of these things. it really is the jack of all trades but master of none sword. This is one of those swords that every time you swing it there’s a little bit of something different going on. I could spend a long time cutting with this sword and still find new ways to use it. Versatility is this sword’s strong point.
IN CONCLUSION:
Pro's: Superb handling, wide range of uses, attractive fittings, excellent polish, beautiful, and permanent peened assembly for those of us who like that sort of thing.
Cons: Price, not really great at any one thing, not yet available since it is a prototype.
The Bottom line:
If you can buy just one really good sword and you want to experience a lot of different styles of sword work this is a great choice because this one can do it all. Yes, I recommend this sword, especially to people who maybe don’t know exactly what they like best and want to try different things out. I have no idea when this sword will be ready for production but it indicates a new shift in the mid-level sword market that is going to have a profound effect.
I think Sean was too. ;D 
