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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 28, 2010 4:15:50 GMT
My wife got me a Hanwei Side Sword for Christmas this year, and per my request, ordered from Kult of Athena. I'm well aware of the hollow grip issues, but I figured it would be a good little sword to try making a custom grip for. Since we were at the in-law's house all Christmas weekend, I didn't have time to do much more than open the box and "ooh" and "ahh" over the sword on Christmas morning, but now that I have been able to look at it more closely, it appears to have a slightly bent threaded section on the end of the tang. I first noticed that the pommel was loose, and gave it about 1/8th turn to tighten it up. Tighten up it did, but the pommel also moved off-center by about 1/16". Doesn't sound like much, but it's quite noticeable. I investigated further by unscrewing the pommel and pulling the plastic grip off (didn't require any tools or anything, just gloved hands to grab the blade). Sure enough, the threaded section has a small bend in it and appears to be slightly off-center. See the attached pictures. It's not a severe bend, but it's enough to make the pommel sit wonky, and in my opinion, destroys the aesthetics of what it otherwise a very good-looking sword. Keep in mind, this sword is brand new and fresh out of the box. It's never been cut with or had anything done to it besides drawing from the scabbard a few times. Certainly nothing that would put any load on the tang, so I'm pretty certain it was like this when it shipped to me. Is this something that KOA would consider a manufacturer's defect? Or am I nitpicking something here, and they're going to tell me to take a hike? It's been a few weeks since my wife placed the order, and the sword has sat in a box under our Christmas tree since it arrived. Hopefully, they would not say that too much time has passed since the order to exchange it. |
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Post by RicWilly on Dec 28, 2010 4:35:53 GMT
KOA has a 45 day return policy for any reason. You just have to send them an email or call them for return authorization. I've returned three or four items to them no problems. Even if it's been more time than that I'd give it a shot seeing it's the Christmas season. |
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Post by Dave(utilityslave) on Dec 28, 2010 4:55:32 GMT
I agree with RicWilly.........get in touch with KOA and see what they say.....then let us know the outcome.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 28, 2010 7:07:02 GMT
Yup, I'd exchange/return it.
This is a very common problem with screw on pommels... not just Hanwei but ALL screw on pommels... and its why I dislike em so much.
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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 28, 2010 14:45:40 GMT
Thanks for the info guys. I'll give them a call and see what they can do.
Unfortunately, they seem to be closed for the holidays today. Does anyone know when they re-open? Their voicemail recording did not say.
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Post by Bradleee42 on Dec 28, 2010 15:05:46 GMT
Should be reopened the 3rd of january. At least thats what is says on their calender.
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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 28, 2010 15:28:17 GMT
Thanks, I didn't know they had a calendar available. I guess I've got a little bit to wait.
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Post by CrystalKOA on Dec 28, 2010 16:26:02 GMT
The showroom is closed for inventory through the 2nd. We are still answering voicemails & emails. We're even shipping out orders as of today. If you sent an email or left a message you would have received a reply. Please send an email with your information. (Order #, name ) Info@KultOfAthena.comI don't handle these issues at KOA but wanted to make sure you knew to contact us, that we are here. ~Crystal |
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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 28, 2010 16:34:38 GMT
Great, thanks Crystal! I'll email the info over.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Dec 29, 2010 14:33:29 GMT
Just my quick two cents, in the 'special instructions' section when placing your orders you can ask them to check out things for you. I did that when I ordered my same Side Sword, asked them to check out the threaded pommel for me and to let me know how sharp it was... they did that no charge same day as I put in the order and it shipped next day. Just something to remember for next time!
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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 29, 2010 16:24:25 GMT
That's good to know. I may ask them to do those same checks if they agree to replace the sword. The one I recieved was what I would consider semi-dull in addition to the tang issues. I shot an email off to info@kultofathena.com yesterday describing the problem and with some of the pictures I posted above. No reply yet, but hopefully I will hear something soon. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Dec 29, 2010 17:44:27 GMT
I actually wouldn't worry about the dullness too much; that seems to be pretty much par for the course with most of Hanwei's European swords, and mine was in more or less the same condition. You can pay for sharpening from KoA, I didn't-- heard it's secondary-bevel type sharpening, like from an Accusharp type tool. What was funky with mine was that like the last half of the blade (to the tip) was sharpish (enough to chop a box) but the half nearer the grip was quite blunt... go figure. I was more freaked out by the fact that the pommel and grip assembly are like 80% of the sword's weight!
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Greg
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,800
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Post by Greg on Dec 29, 2010 17:55:19 GMT
I wouldn't worry about "if" they will replace a sword. The only thing that might stop a return would be the time, but unless your wife is a VERY early gift buyer, then you'll have no problems there.
I once bought the Hanwei Mortuary Hilt Sword, kept it for a little over 30 days, had decided that I didn't like it and got authorization to send it back. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the sword, other then it just didn't fit my hand. Granted I made sure not to sharpen it or change it's physical state in any way.
But yeah, what you need to do is email them so you can get an authorization to return the sword.
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 29, 2010 19:29:17 GMT
They are all like that--and are SUPPOSED TO BE blunt in the forte. You won't ever use that area for cutting anyway, and it gives more safety, rigidity, and rubustness to the area of the sword you would use to parry, especially if you use edge parries.
But yes, the "sharpness" of the foible is not very good. Mine was pretty easy to sharpen up though.
This sort of pommel issue the OP has is the reason I don't like twist-on pommels--you have one of the heaviest parts of the sword tethered wholehog to the absolute thinnest part of the tang with no support by way of keying. It's very easy to bend that area and then the whole assembly goes kerplunkt.
I don't use my side sword for cutting, just for thrusting tests and looking nice, but it's still frustrating. I actually think the sword feels more nimble WITHOUT the pommel, but I don't have a great way of securing that assembly yet, :lol: . And it looks strange, of course.
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Post by CrystalKOA on Dec 29, 2010 21:55:46 GMT
Accusharp?? 100% Completely Untrue. Sharpening is done with a belt sander which does leave a secondary bevel on most blade types. To get geometrically correct sharpening we suggest doing it by hand with sharpening stones. The $18.00 sword sharpening service is not meant to be the "be all end all" of sharpening. It is only meant to provide a nice sharp edge for customers who do not have the tools or experience to sharpen swords on their own.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Dec 30, 2010 20:51:24 GMT
Easy, there! I didn't mean any offense and was just repeating what I heard elsewhere on the forum, that your service produced a "accusharp-type secondary bevel". Apparently that was inaccurate and I shouldn't go upon hearsay. Thanks for correcting our misunderstanding of your company's sharpening techniques.
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Post by Bob The Great on Dec 30, 2010 20:58:56 GMT
Well, the old sword is in the mail. No hassle from KOA getting the exchange OK'd. They emailed me a shipping label, and I just boxed it up and dropped it off at the UPS store.
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avery
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Manufacturer/Vendor
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Post by avery on Jan 1, 2011 0:57:26 GMT
Good to hear Bob. As for the secondary bevel from the factory sharpening, just about all sharpening services are like that. You can tell the difference from a belt sanded bevel and a "accusharp type" bevel by its eveness. Beltsanded bevels will be much more even and not near as wavy.
As a side note, secondary bevels are actually quite historically accurate; Most all solidiers would not have taken the time or had the time to sharpen a blade without leaving a secondary bevel, it was a simple, quick and an effective way to put a serviceable edge on their blades.
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Post by Bob The Great on Jan 15, 2011 0:20:47 GMT
Followup: Got the new sword today. Looks great!
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