ecovolo
Senior Forumite
Retired Moderator
Posts: 2,074
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Post by ecovolo on Mar 11, 2011 0:30:58 GMT
Heh :mrgreen:
Remember to buy at least one Jody Samson blade before you die. Jody passed away a few years ago; you're not going to see his particular type of artistry again.
--Edward
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Mar 11, 2011 0:55:54 GMT
I know. I was sad to hear about it. Especially since I had a sword design (changed recently) that I drew out of left field and it turned to be shockingly similar to one of Jody's designs that I have never seen before. The only difference was my design used a straight blade where his used a curved.
And if one of those two are still there in a few years when I might have money, I definitely will.
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Post by Madax132 on Oct 29, 2011 16:18:59 GMT
AHEM  The ideal sword for the larger gentlemen, besides customs which I don''t have any experience with I'd venture to say that it is the most durable fantasy sword to date, it really feels as unbreakable as it looks and is peened unlike many fantasy swords. |
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Post by Anders on Oct 30, 2011 15:24:55 GMT
Well, my opinion on the Guardian is the same as my opinion on most DSA swords - it's not without merits and probably has a nice blade, but there is a lot of things I would like to change on it. If I wanted a project sword to make something Conan-ish, I might consider it.
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Post by Madax132 on Oct 30, 2011 20:42:46 GMT
What is there to change? It is a well balanced sword designed for people who have more than average upper body strength? It's not 5 pounds like people say either is 4 pounds 3 oz and is well balanced like I said.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Oct 30, 2011 21:11:16 GMT
Thing is, a lot of people don't have more than average upper body strength, Madax. Also, Kult of Athena lists the Guardian's weight at 5lbs 1.6oz. And frankly, while it may be durable and balanced, it ain't exactly that good looking. I'd rather spend an extra 100$ and get myself a VA Warder, which not only looks better, but is also literally less than half the weight (Guardian = 81.6oz; Warder = 38oz). You may have the strength to wield the Guardian, and that's cool, but there are tons of changes that would need to be made before it could be usable by the average swordsman.
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Post by Madax132 on Oct 30, 2011 21:45:18 GMT
Sure but there is a market for it. It is not unreasonably weighted and the trade off is that it's nigh indestructible. Kultofathena has the wrong weight. I've weighed it and SBG store and review both list it as 4 pounds 3 oz. The cheapest place to get both weapons is Kultofathena. A sharpened guardian (if you don't have an accusharp which is what I did) will cost you
about 300 and that is including shipping from chicago to NJ. I see the price has changed but I assume that it is a mistake since they are listing it as more than the retail price and will email them about this (I got mine for 265). Once again the guardian is 67 oz not 81.6. It is heavy but not useable I should think to most people as opposed to the ranger or the andruil.
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Post by William Swiger on Oct 31, 2011 5:00:46 GMT
DSA swords fit a segment of the market for sure. I have had about 6 of them over the last few years but can honestly say that I will pass on any more. This is just my preference from hands on experience with them. I think the company is moving in the right direction and they will eventually get where they turn out swords with decent finished blades that handle and cut well. They are tough swords and fit well into reenactment or for strength training. They also turn out some fittings on their swords that other makers don't provide.
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Post by chuckinohio on Oct 31, 2011 13:38:22 GMT
Give the DSA "Sage Sword" a whirl if you get a chance.
It's still a tick over 3.5 Lbs, but it doesn't handle too bad. Its got enough grip that you can maneuver it pretty darn well.
Of course, it need a rewrap and scabbard refinish, but if one pops up cheap, you might consider it for a project piece.
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Post by Anders on Oct 31, 2011 15:23:57 GMT
Oh, depends on how much work I'd like to put in. Bare minimum, it needs a hilt rewrap badly - the historical style doesn't suit this type of sword, plus it's not really that nice to begin with. I think I'd just get some leather straps and wind around the hilt for a more "barbarian" type look. Then I might try some kind of gilding or bronzing technique on the pommel and guard, maybe try etching some runes into the blade or something. You know, just to take that "80:s fantasy movie" aestetic all the way.
Now, if I really wanted to put effort in I'd see if it was possible to just get a hold of the blade, regrind it a bit and then experiment up the hilt myself. I suspect a lot of those five pounds are in that monsterous guard and the lack of a distal taper in the blade, so that should be fixable.
If nothing else, I think DSA has a place on the market simply because they have swords with proportions you won't really find anywhere else. That said, one of my issues with the DSA fantasy offerings is that they can't seem to decide if they want them to be plain and utalitarian or decorative in a retro Jody Samson kind of way, so they end up with the worst aspects of both. I like the Guardian a lot more then, say, the Carpathian or the Flame of Angels, but it's too heavy for something I'd enjoy swinging around for fun, much less consider a faithful weapon, yet it's not pretty enough to hang on my wall.
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Post by Madax132 on Oct 31, 2011 19:27:35 GMT
Like I said it is four pounds, big difference. It's nimble enough to change direction in swing. Also the guardian helps keep the balance point back a lot and provides excellent coverage.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Oct 31, 2011 21:05:28 GMT
It's quite possible Kult of Athena is using old stats for their Darksword products; they've recently started phasing out the older ones by putting them on sale, I believe, while replacing them with the newer and lighter versions at regular retail (regular for KoA anyway). Not sure if they've actually changed up the stats though...
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Post by kasim18 on Jan 9, 2012 22:37:27 GMT
i know on other threads i advertised this to death, but my ultimate fantasy sword is the chikara v3. i consider a katana with fittings that untraditional to be fantasy. www.globalgear.com.au/bestseller ... eel-katana |
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Post by Dr. Whom on Jan 14, 2012 2:30:07 GMT
I like that Chikara
Anyone have one for trade/sale?
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Post by kasim18 on Jan 14, 2012 19:52:41 GMT
that's not the v3, it's the v2 in the pics, and it's not the one to get, i would advise asking about a v1. the fittings of v2, and the overall quality were so bad, i mentioned it to global gear, and they immeditely started the v3. should be roughly $500 outside AU, but it will be way better
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Post by Anders on Jan 14, 2012 22:58:21 GMT
I dunno... Apart from the suede ito, how is it different from most other katana? :?:
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Jan 14, 2012 23:04:02 GMT
I was wondering the same thing myself.
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Post by Dr. Whom on Jan 15, 2012 0:02:07 GMT
For me it is the colors and square Tsuba...It looks like it came from the world of Shadowrun...You could customize a katana to look like that of course but you do not see many that are sold like that
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Jan 15, 2012 0:18:30 GMT
Gah... hate Shadowrun... long Live Cyberpunk 2020.  I do agree with Madax tho... the DSA Guardian is the sword I want most from them... and one of very few lower priced swords I'm still interested in. I will do some customizing tho. |
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Post by Dr. Whom on Jan 15, 2012 0:28:02 GMT
:lol:
I have not played either game so let me rephrase it and say that Katana looks very cyberpunkish which is cool for me
The Flame of Angels to me is the best fantasy offering from DSA...That is something a Boris Vallejo warrior would be holding. Time to hit those weights so you can swing it
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