My take on the gen2 Irish hand and a half
Apr 30, 2007 13:10:29 GMT
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Apr 30, 2007 13:10:29 GMT
I'm sure many people here are familiar with this sword from seeing it at sites like AoV, imperial weapons and indeed on SBG.
This is easily the best sword in my collection, and is also easily my favourite. Shortly after buying it though (it was still in the post), I found the review of the same sword done by Mr Bill Tsafa on SBG and I got very worried by what I saw. Being in the UK, I had spent rather a lot on it and was worried that I'd gone and bought the lemon of the bunch.
Thankfully, I can safely say that my fears were allayed. My first impressions were excellent. The sword was beautifully finished, fantastically light and excellently balanced. The peening and handle were also extremely tightly fitted and very comfortable. Because I have quite skinny arms the bowtie crossguard doesn't interfere with my swings. I'm quite a small chap, but I feel that it is light enough for me to swing away all day without getting tired.
Taking it for some practice swings I was very impressed. It carves through wood like butter. After chopping at a very large tree stump in my back garden about 2000 times I think I'm justified in arguing that the one Mr Tsafa broke must have been a bad example. Mine doesn't even have a scuffed blade yet! The tree is pretty dead though.
The tempering is also very thorough and consistent, with just the right amount of flex without making the sword feel too bendy or whippy.
My only criticisms of this sword are that when it arrived the sword had a nasty burr on the very point, as if someone had used it to stab a block of granite. I have filed this off now, though and all is well. I also find that despite cleaning it and applying copious amounts of sword oil before storing it (even for short periods) the blade develops small patches of surface rust VERY quickly. I never touch the blade with bare hands if I can avoid it. Has anyone else found this with Gen2s?
Overall then:
Fit and finish= 4/5
Historical accuracy= 3/5
Handling= 5/5
Structural integrity= 5/5
Overall= 5/5 A must buy for those who don't mind oiling their sword very regularly ;D
This is easily the best sword in my collection, and is also easily my favourite. Shortly after buying it though (it was still in the post), I found the review of the same sword done by Mr Bill Tsafa on SBG and I got very worried by what I saw. Being in the UK, I had spent rather a lot on it and was worried that I'd gone and bought the lemon of the bunch.
Thankfully, I can safely say that my fears were allayed. My first impressions were excellent. The sword was beautifully finished, fantastically light and excellently balanced. The peening and handle were also extremely tightly fitted and very comfortable. Because I have quite skinny arms the bowtie crossguard doesn't interfere with my swings. I'm quite a small chap, but I feel that it is light enough for me to swing away all day without getting tired.
Taking it for some practice swings I was very impressed. It carves through wood like butter. After chopping at a very large tree stump in my back garden about 2000 times I think I'm justified in arguing that the one Mr Tsafa broke must have been a bad example. Mine doesn't even have a scuffed blade yet! The tree is pretty dead though.
The tempering is also very thorough and consistent, with just the right amount of flex without making the sword feel too bendy or whippy.
My only criticisms of this sword are that when it arrived the sword had a nasty burr on the very point, as if someone had used it to stab a block of granite. I have filed this off now, though and all is well. I also find that despite cleaning it and applying copious amounts of sword oil before storing it (even for short periods) the blade develops small patches of surface rust VERY quickly. I never touch the blade with bare hands if I can avoid it. Has anyone else found this with Gen2s?
Overall then:
Fit and finish= 4/5
Historical accuracy= 3/5
Handling= 5/5
Structural integrity= 5/5
Overall= 5/5 A must buy for those who don't mind oiling their sword very regularly ;D