Review: VA Base Model Actium
Sept 20, 2010 23:19:22 GMT
Post by Odingaard on Sept 20, 2010 23:19:22 GMT
VALIANT ARMORY BASE MODEL ACTIUM
Reviewed by J.E. “Odingaard” Sarge
Special Note: This Base Model Actium was customized by myself to appear somewhat differently than the production model. I will detail these differences in the review below, but I wanted to include a disclaimer in case any potential buyers decided to purchase due to these differences in appearance.
Below is a photo of the Base Model Actium for Comparison:
Introduction
It’s a very little known fact that I have always been a tremendous gladius fan at heart and a closet fan of all things to do with the Roman Empire. I have accrued a modest collection of Roman weapons and armor over the years, and have even participated quite a few Roman re-enactments in my time. So, in light of this, I always keep my eyes open for gladii when they are offered by manufacturers.
The Actium first caught my eye when it was first premiered as one of the new Valiant Armory Signature designs last year. When Sonny offered a base model of this sword, I was immediately smitten by the idea of it.
I ordered a Base Model Actium from my distributor on Thursday, and it arrived the following Wednesday safe and sound.
Historical Overview
The Actium is actually based on the Gladius Hispaniensis, which differs from the standard gladii of later periods. The Romans adopted swords similar to those used by the Celt Iberians and others during the early part of the conquest of Hispania during the 3rd Century BC. This type of gladius possessed a longer, narrower blade than the later Mainz, Fulham, and Pompeii types that sword collectors may be more familiar with. .
Initial Impressions
The Base Model Actium was well packed in a non-descript remailer box which in turn was packaged inside of the primary shipping box. There was no problems or damage noted upon unpacking.
Taking the sword in my hand, I immediately noticed its strong, authorative feel and presence. There was no mistake, this was definitely a Roman sword.
The first thing I did was remitted the sword to my work bench for some immediate modifications / customizations that I had planned in the back of my head when I first saw that this sword was being produced. This sword was going to be campaign-worn right off the bat.
Statistics
Blade Length: 25.25”
Handle Length: 4.15”
Overall Length: 32.25”
Guard Width: 2.75”
PoB (Point of Balance): 5.0”
CoP (Center of Percussion): 19.0”
Weight: 1lbs, 15oz
The Blade
The blade of the Actium has a rather complex, wasp-waisted geometry giving it an almost leaf like form. The blade has a diamond-cross section which maintains its form through the distal taper leading toward the acutely tapered tip. The blade has two ¼” wide fullers running parallel for the first half of the the blade.
The blade of my Actium is hair-splitting sharp, the edge is exceptionally well-executed on this sword. The sharpening job is consistant and great quality. There is a very small secondary bevel, but this will blend out just fine with some 400gr and some elbow grease.
I noticed that my fullers were slightly uneven in length on both sides. This does not matter in the least to me, but some people might nit-pick about it. I think it adds a certain handmade character to the blade.
As shown, I have blued the fullers on my Actium to make them contrast the blade finish for aesthetic reasons. I also used a 400gr Scotch Brite pad on the stock blade finish for additonal effect.
The Grip
The handle is a lathed one piece light-colored hardwood spindle with four finger knurls. The profile of the handle tapers toward the base, making it thinner toward the pommel than it is toward the guard. The cross-section to the handle is round, not oval or hex as on some reproductons. Any of these profiles are correct in historical context, so it's a matter of personal preference to which shape you like.
The grooves let the sword set securely in the hand, with no fear of slippage or loss of control. The grip is very comfortable for the most part, though I would prefer my grip to be about ½” longer because of my oversized hands.
The handle is originally finished with a white enamel paint to give it the look of bone. In customizing my Actium, I removed this white paint and restore the natural finish of the wood beneath. I used brown Kiwi shoe polish to bring out the grain of the wood and add a slightly antique patina.
The Guard
The guard is made from a heavy walnut-finished hardwood and is semi-circular in shape with the blade resting on the flat side. The guard is edged with a 1/8” raised wooden border. The shoulders of the blade rest in a small indention backed with a thin brass plate which is used to keep the blade from twisting in the guard and to keep the shoulders of the blade from biting into the guard itself.
Originally, the guard is finished with dark walnut stain and a gloss varnish. I stripped off the varnish, brought out the wood grain with a 400gr Scotch Brite Pad, applied a light coat with Tung oil, and finished with 000 steel wool. This gives it a slightly antiquated finish with more pronounced wood grain. I also applied a hammered brass finish to the guard plate to give it a little more character and have it not look so refined.
The Pommel
The large round pommel made from a heavy walnut-finished hardwood and has an elliptical profile and is edged with a 1/8” raised wooden border. It is the same finish as the guard. The pommel is attached to the tang via a brass decorative nut.
Now, people either love or hate large gladius pommels. I like a larger pommel because it augments an attack with your fist. Punch someone while holding the pommel a few degrees forward, and the pommel acts as a damn good ad hoc bludgeon in close quarter combat. The downside is that it slightly hampers your ability to make slashing attacks. I can see both qualities in this pommel, but it's a glass is half-full / half-empty kind of thing. I can understand why some people don't like it or why people prefer a smaller pommel though.
One slight physical problem that I had with the pommel is that it was somewhat loose when I unpacked the sword, which in turn made the whole guard assembly loose. The solution was merely to tighten the pommel nut, but this might frighten some buyers initially, as the complete hilt feels like it’s going to come off. If this happens to you, just tighten the nut – good common sense stuff.
I treated the pommel just as I did the guard to bring out the wood’s natural grain and add an antique effect. Additionally, I applied blue Loctite to the pommel nut, tightened it with vice grips, then removed the excess 1/8” of tang threads with a Dremel tool. I finished with a mill file and sanding block to make the pommel nut complete flush with the tang. I also cleaned up the marks left by the vice grips with a steel wire polishing wheel.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is simple, yet elegant. It’s made from wood and covered with burgundy dyed leather; finished with a coat of leather gloss. The scabbard lacks the rain gutters and brass face plate of the Signature model, but it does have the same brass chape and period-correct 4-ring suspension system.
The scabbard also comes with a matching, thin 1", period accurate baldric that you tie onto the sword yourself. Securing the baldric is not difficult, and can be done with minimal effort.
The scabbard fits the sword properly with no play whatsoever and will hold the sword secure when turned upside down.
Handling Characteristics
As I stated earlier, this sword has a very powerful and authorative feel in the hand. The higher PoB gives good weight to the tip to put a lot of kinetic energy behind a thrust. The grip is a little too small for my larger hands, but not so much as to hamper me from using this sword comfortably.
Thrusts are delivered spot on and confidently, hitting the intended mark each and every time. Cutting is a little more difficult, as this was not really developed at a cutting-specific sword. However, cuts can be made well with a little bit of practice and modifying your hand position slightly by placing your thumb and forefinger on the guard.
Test Cutting
I did some minor test cutting, and will get around to adding a video to this review in the future. As I said, thrusts are quite nice. Cutting is a little more difficult, but it can be mastered. I practiced on several standard water bottles and a few milk jugs – which now lay in carnage in my recycle bin in the back yard. What else can I really say, this sword acts how it should.
Conclusions
I found the Base Model Actium to be a solid value for the money and a great customization platform for someone wanting to experiment a little bit. I am glad to have added the Actium to my collection and look forward to using and carrying it to period events this coming year.
My goal with this sword was to expend just a tad of effort and get a lot of effect, turning this from a new blade into a ‘campaign worn, but cared for’ sword. I am very pleased with the way this sword turned out in the end.
New or campaign worn, this sword would not disappoint you!
Pros
- Uniquely functional blade profile.
- Beautiful scabbard.
- Great serviceable edge.
- Sexy out of the box looks.
- Exceptional good value for the money.
- Excellent customization platform.
Cons
- Grip, pommel, and guard should to be checked for tightness after assembly.
- Fullers are slightly uneven.
- Large pommel may be uncomfortable for some people.
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword to anyone looking for a good entry level gladius that had the looks of a much more expensive sword. It can be left as is, or it can be easily customized for a stunningly unique look. In either case, you would find the Base Model Actium a good value for the money.
Reviewed by J.E. “Odingaard” Sarge
Special Note: This Base Model Actium was customized by myself to appear somewhat differently than the production model. I will detail these differences in the review below, but I wanted to include a disclaimer in case any potential buyers decided to purchase due to these differences in appearance.
Below is a photo of the Base Model Actium for Comparison:
Introduction
It’s a very little known fact that I have always been a tremendous gladius fan at heart and a closet fan of all things to do with the Roman Empire. I have accrued a modest collection of Roman weapons and armor over the years, and have even participated quite a few Roman re-enactments in my time. So, in light of this, I always keep my eyes open for gladii when they are offered by manufacturers.
The Actium first caught my eye when it was first premiered as one of the new Valiant Armory Signature designs last year. When Sonny offered a base model of this sword, I was immediately smitten by the idea of it.
I ordered a Base Model Actium from my distributor on Thursday, and it arrived the following Wednesday safe and sound.
Historical Overview
The Actium is actually based on the Gladius Hispaniensis, which differs from the standard gladii of later periods. The Romans adopted swords similar to those used by the Celt Iberians and others during the early part of the conquest of Hispania during the 3rd Century BC. This type of gladius possessed a longer, narrower blade than the later Mainz, Fulham, and Pompeii types that sword collectors may be more familiar with. .
Initial Impressions
The Base Model Actium was well packed in a non-descript remailer box which in turn was packaged inside of the primary shipping box. There was no problems or damage noted upon unpacking.
Taking the sword in my hand, I immediately noticed its strong, authorative feel and presence. There was no mistake, this was definitely a Roman sword.
The first thing I did was remitted the sword to my work bench for some immediate modifications / customizations that I had planned in the back of my head when I first saw that this sword was being produced. This sword was going to be campaign-worn right off the bat.
Statistics
Blade Length: 25.25”
Handle Length: 4.15”
Overall Length: 32.25”
Guard Width: 2.75”
PoB (Point of Balance): 5.0”
CoP (Center of Percussion): 19.0”
Weight: 1lbs, 15oz
The Blade
The blade of the Actium has a rather complex, wasp-waisted geometry giving it an almost leaf like form. The blade has a diamond-cross section which maintains its form through the distal taper leading toward the acutely tapered tip. The blade has two ¼” wide fullers running parallel for the first half of the the blade.
The blade of my Actium is hair-splitting sharp, the edge is exceptionally well-executed on this sword. The sharpening job is consistant and great quality. There is a very small secondary bevel, but this will blend out just fine with some 400gr and some elbow grease.
I noticed that my fullers were slightly uneven in length on both sides. This does not matter in the least to me, but some people might nit-pick about it. I think it adds a certain handmade character to the blade.
As shown, I have blued the fullers on my Actium to make them contrast the blade finish for aesthetic reasons. I also used a 400gr Scotch Brite pad on the stock blade finish for additonal effect.
The Grip
The handle is a lathed one piece light-colored hardwood spindle with four finger knurls. The profile of the handle tapers toward the base, making it thinner toward the pommel than it is toward the guard. The cross-section to the handle is round, not oval or hex as on some reproductons. Any of these profiles are correct in historical context, so it's a matter of personal preference to which shape you like.
The grooves let the sword set securely in the hand, with no fear of slippage or loss of control. The grip is very comfortable for the most part, though I would prefer my grip to be about ½” longer because of my oversized hands.
The handle is originally finished with a white enamel paint to give it the look of bone. In customizing my Actium, I removed this white paint and restore the natural finish of the wood beneath. I used brown Kiwi shoe polish to bring out the grain of the wood and add a slightly antique patina.
The Guard
The guard is made from a heavy walnut-finished hardwood and is semi-circular in shape with the blade resting on the flat side. The guard is edged with a 1/8” raised wooden border. The shoulders of the blade rest in a small indention backed with a thin brass plate which is used to keep the blade from twisting in the guard and to keep the shoulders of the blade from biting into the guard itself.
Originally, the guard is finished with dark walnut stain and a gloss varnish. I stripped off the varnish, brought out the wood grain with a 400gr Scotch Brite Pad, applied a light coat with Tung oil, and finished with 000 steel wool. This gives it a slightly antiquated finish with more pronounced wood grain. I also applied a hammered brass finish to the guard plate to give it a little more character and have it not look so refined.
The Pommel
The large round pommel made from a heavy walnut-finished hardwood and has an elliptical profile and is edged with a 1/8” raised wooden border. It is the same finish as the guard. The pommel is attached to the tang via a brass decorative nut.
Now, people either love or hate large gladius pommels. I like a larger pommel because it augments an attack with your fist. Punch someone while holding the pommel a few degrees forward, and the pommel acts as a damn good ad hoc bludgeon in close quarter combat. The downside is that it slightly hampers your ability to make slashing attacks. I can see both qualities in this pommel, but it's a glass is half-full / half-empty kind of thing. I can understand why some people don't like it or why people prefer a smaller pommel though.
One slight physical problem that I had with the pommel is that it was somewhat loose when I unpacked the sword, which in turn made the whole guard assembly loose. The solution was merely to tighten the pommel nut, but this might frighten some buyers initially, as the complete hilt feels like it’s going to come off. If this happens to you, just tighten the nut – good common sense stuff.
I treated the pommel just as I did the guard to bring out the wood’s natural grain and add an antique effect. Additionally, I applied blue Loctite to the pommel nut, tightened it with vice grips, then removed the excess 1/8” of tang threads with a Dremel tool. I finished with a mill file and sanding block to make the pommel nut complete flush with the tang. I also cleaned up the marks left by the vice grips with a steel wire polishing wheel.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is simple, yet elegant. It’s made from wood and covered with burgundy dyed leather; finished with a coat of leather gloss. The scabbard lacks the rain gutters and brass face plate of the Signature model, but it does have the same brass chape and period-correct 4-ring suspension system.
The scabbard also comes with a matching, thin 1", period accurate baldric that you tie onto the sword yourself. Securing the baldric is not difficult, and can be done with minimal effort.
The scabbard fits the sword properly with no play whatsoever and will hold the sword secure when turned upside down.
Handling Characteristics
As I stated earlier, this sword has a very powerful and authorative feel in the hand. The higher PoB gives good weight to the tip to put a lot of kinetic energy behind a thrust. The grip is a little too small for my larger hands, but not so much as to hamper me from using this sword comfortably.
Thrusts are delivered spot on and confidently, hitting the intended mark each and every time. Cutting is a little more difficult, as this was not really developed at a cutting-specific sword. However, cuts can be made well with a little bit of practice and modifying your hand position slightly by placing your thumb and forefinger on the guard.
Test Cutting
I did some minor test cutting, and will get around to adding a video to this review in the future. As I said, thrusts are quite nice. Cutting is a little more difficult, but it can be mastered. I practiced on several standard water bottles and a few milk jugs – which now lay in carnage in my recycle bin in the back yard. What else can I really say, this sword acts how it should.
Conclusions
I found the Base Model Actium to be a solid value for the money and a great customization platform for someone wanting to experiment a little bit. I am glad to have added the Actium to my collection and look forward to using and carrying it to period events this coming year.
My goal with this sword was to expend just a tad of effort and get a lot of effect, turning this from a new blade into a ‘campaign worn, but cared for’ sword. I am very pleased with the way this sword turned out in the end.
New or campaign worn, this sword would not disappoint you!
Pros
- Uniquely functional blade profile.
- Beautiful scabbard.
- Great serviceable edge.
- Sexy out of the box looks.
- Exceptional good value for the money.
- Excellent customization platform.
Cons
- Grip, pommel, and guard should to be checked for tightness after assembly.
- Fullers are slightly uneven.
- Large pommel may be uncomfortable for some people.
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword to anyone looking for a good entry level gladius that had the looks of a much more expensive sword. It can be left as is, or it can be easily customized for a stunningly unique look. In either case, you would find the Base Model Actium a good value for the money.