Angus Trim Mercenary Grade XIX.1
Feb 12, 2011 17:27:08 GMT
Post by chuckinohio on Feb 12, 2011 17:27:08 GMT
Introduction-
This sword was recently introduced through TriedandTrue Armory, and is made by sword maker Angus "Gus" Trim.
I recently have developed more of an interest in single hand swords, and upon seeing this model I was instantly attracted to its form and overall aesthetics.
I have absolutely no experience with an XIX type blade, but seeing as how it was offered for sale by a vendor whos opinions on such matters are irrefutable, I rolled the dice and took a chance on it.
Historical overview-
For an introduction to the Oakeshott type XIX sword, I will suggest that you read this excellent featured article offered on MyArmoury. This is where I drew my information from regarding this sword before purchase.
www.myarmoury.com/feature_spotxix.html
If I had to choose which sword on that page, mine most resembles, it would have to be the example labeled as XIX.3 from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. The fullers outlining the ricasso are different,and obviously the pommel, but overall the visual impression is similar.
I have no idea what Mr. trim used as a basis for his design of this sword, outside of his knowledge of the Oakeshott typology and period fittings appropriate to certain sword types. I will say that after reading the MyArmoury article over and over, he nailed down exactly what I would expect a type XIX sword to look and feel like.
Disclosure-
I purchased this sword with my own funds from TriedandTrue Armory. I am in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, or an employee of TriedandTrue Armory. I am in no way receiving any compensation or consideration for this review.
I have no doubt that any ammount of cajoling, pleading and or begging would still result in my paying full retail from TriedandTrue as Tom K. and Hiroshi are notorious hardcases, and immune to such chiselling maneuvers :lol:
Initial Impressions-
The sword made the trip from Oregon to Ohio in three days, and arrived in good order. There was no damage sustained in transit and all was as advertised.
The sword was packaged in an unconventional manner versus your usual cardboard box set up. It was secured with a cardboard sleeve over the blade, one over the hilt and cross guard, and secured in a cardboard envelope with standoffs to keep it from shifting around inside.
Quite a new approach, and one that seems to work really well. The bulk of a cardboard box is removed and the sword is still as well protected as any that I have ever received.
Overall views of the sword as I first viewed it after unpackaging it.
I have to say that after my reading up on the Type XIX blade, I still was not quite ready for what I received. This blade has spine!
Owing to its flattened hexagonal profile, this sword has presence and rigidity in spades. Upon picking it up I instantly was under the impression that I could thrust this sword with no worries about the blade folding or flexing enough to decrease the force of the thrust. I am at this point becoming convinced that this sword may very well be the do it all type that many of us are looking for.
The above picture shows the ricasso of the blade and the twin fullers outlining the ricasso. The Mercenary grade sword offered by TriedandTrue has blackened fullers because they are not polished out to finish the sword. This is a measure adopted to cut costs in an effort to get an affordable sword in the hands of a practitioner that will perform as a sword of its given type should.
I find the effect pleasing, as it lends less of a polished appearance, and more of a business like aspect to the sword.
Showing the termination of the main fuller, and the clearly defined hexagonal profile of the blade. Again, you will note that the termination of the fuller is not as clean and well defined as on a higher grade of finished blade, but it is done this way on purpose.
What may not be apparent in the photos is the overall finsh of the blade. It is finished in a lower grit that a more refined and higher grade sword would be. this again is a measure adopted to keep the cost of the blade more affordable for the practitioner or collector. Once again I find it most agreeable as it lends to the overall impression that this blade was made to be carried onto the field and used.
Showing the termination of the hexagonal profile of the blade body and the transition to the tip.
The tip of this sword is in no way a delicate needle, it is substantial and is backed by the mass of the blade body. My impression is that this is going to be a magnificent thruster.
This sword arrived in a state of sharpness that I would call "watch out" meaning that it was paper cutting sharp and with no secondary bevels. Tuck in the toes!!
Tom K. of TriedandTrue Armory has since fessed up that he touched up the edge before shipping it out, and he described it as a " Rough and unpolished" edge.
I submit to you, that if the edge on this sword is rough and unpolished, I suspect that if Tom gave it his full house treatment, I would stand a btter than average chance of being able to cut through a tank with this sword
Specs and details-
Weight- 2lbs 5 oz
Overall length- 40 inches
Blade length- 33 and 1/4 inches
grip length- 4 and 1/4 inches
Point of balance- 6 and 1/4 inches in front of the guard
Blade thickness- At the Ricasso= .207
At the termination of the main fuller midway down the blade= .125
At the termination of the Hexagonal section and transition to the tip profile= .108
Center of percussion- Amazing.........
This sword has a sweet spot that starts at 18 inches from the front of the cross and extends out to 24 inches.
I am assuming that this is due to the cross section of the blade, and its subsequent rigidity. Yeah, I dig this feature a whole lot. There is a lot to be said for a blade that will forgive you your stance and form.
A photo in hand. The grip is roomy enough for my needs and affords plenty of room for those with larger mitts. My hand in this picture measures 3 and 1/2 inches from outside of index finger to outside of pinky.
Showing the fit of the guard to the blade ricasso. The guard has a milled slot in it to accept the blade shoulder and is cleanly executed. The slot is slightly wider than the width of the blade, but fits very closely to the ricasso. Overall the skill and care that went into the fit up is plainly evident.
Two shots showing the Tang and the transition to the blade shoulders. No problems in evidence here, and the quality of construction one would expect from an Angus trim blade is present.
The sword broken down into its component parts showing the hex nut construction method employed on this and many other Angus trim swords.
The milled slot in the cross to accept the blade and the tang slot on the reverse of the guard. Cleanly done, with no slop or evidence of an attempt to "Make it fit" This guard was fitted to this blade with an eye towards solid construction.
The slot in the pommel used to key it to the tang when assembled. Once again, there is no evidence that it was produced and then just made to work with this blade. it fits the tang with minimal clearance and when tightened up, there is no evidence of play whatsoever.
The grip, showing the seam where the leather grip wrap is glued. The grip was leaned against the pommel for stability.
The grip is leather over a cord wrap that is then dyed. The grip is dyed to look as if it has been used and worn, and achieves that very well.
I have been told by others who know him, that Mr. Trims least favorite part of making a sword is doing the grip. While the grip wrap on this grip may not be of the quality one would expect from the likes of Christian Fletcher, it is still well done and entirely serviceable. The edges of the leather are skived and the seam does not protrude at all. The seam is also not as straight as one usually sees on higher end blades, but keep in mind the idea behind this blade, which was to produce a quality blade that performs well for a minimal cost.
I find that the grip adds to the overall aesthetic of this sword, which is a weapon that is made to be used.
Handling-
The handling on this sword is where it really shines. The point of balance is far enough out to lend it plenty of blade presence, but not far enough out that it becomes unwieldy. The sword sits in the hand fine, but it is letting you know the whole time that it is time to cut.
The sword starts in the cutting stroke with very little effort, and reverses as easily as a sword that was balanced closer to the cross.
I found myself puzzling over how a blade of this weight balanced that far out from the crosss guard could be so responsive, I then gave up trying to come up with a reason for it and accepted the fact that this sword is exactly what I wanted.
An authoritative cutter with a wide sweet spot, very forgiving of edge alignment, and the ability to thrust without blade deflection.
Cutting-
It is very cold here right now, and we have a large ammount of snow and ice on the ground. I risked the "run out and cut quickly" routine one time before realizing that a sharp blade in the hands of a maniac on ice was not going to end well. I managed to flail at a gallon milk jug and was surprised that my lack of technique and shivering like a scared cat still produced clean cuts. my edge alignment was poor I am sure, but the blade did not seem to mind a bit. That was all I managed before discretion got the upper hand over valor.
Therefore I submit to you, a video that Tom K. of TriedandTrue Armory made of himself cutting with this very sword
Conclusion-
Overall this sword was everything that I was anticipating and more.
I was more than happy with the overall aesthetic of the Mercenary grade treatment applied to this sword, it looks as if it belongs to a man at arms who is not concerned so much with the visual appeal of his weapon, but more with its functionality on the field.
Pros-
A genuine Angus Trim made blade for $350.00
A very good representation of the under represented in the market, Type XIX blade
Handling, whether by luck or the gods smiling on me, is exactly what I wanted
Construction is tight with no squeaks, rattles, or blemishes apparent.
Cons-
To really reach and pick at nits, the grip wrap is the only apparent thing that one could possibly take issue with on this blade. Taken with the grade of sword that this is, and the attempt to keep costs down, I do not consider it a negative, but some very well may. Be advised
I would highly recommend that anyone who wishes to acquire a type XIX sword, take a long look at this model. The Mercenary grade puts true Gus Trim swords more within the reach of the backyard practitioner and affords them the chance to step up to a performance blade without topping the $300 dollar mark by too much. And if we face it, if you are going to cut with your sword, why do we need the fancy polish and sparkly blade?
I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
This sword was recently introduced through TriedandTrue Armory, and is made by sword maker Angus "Gus" Trim.
I recently have developed more of an interest in single hand swords, and upon seeing this model I was instantly attracted to its form and overall aesthetics.
I have absolutely no experience with an XIX type blade, but seeing as how it was offered for sale by a vendor whos opinions on such matters are irrefutable, I rolled the dice and took a chance on it.
Historical overview-
For an introduction to the Oakeshott type XIX sword, I will suggest that you read this excellent featured article offered on MyArmoury. This is where I drew my information from regarding this sword before purchase.
www.myarmoury.com/feature_spotxix.html
If I had to choose which sword on that page, mine most resembles, it would have to be the example labeled as XIX.3 from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. The fullers outlining the ricasso are different,and obviously the pommel, but overall the visual impression is similar.
I have no idea what Mr. trim used as a basis for his design of this sword, outside of his knowledge of the Oakeshott typology and period fittings appropriate to certain sword types. I will say that after reading the MyArmoury article over and over, he nailed down exactly what I would expect a type XIX sword to look and feel like.
Disclosure-
I purchased this sword with my own funds from TriedandTrue Armory. I am in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, or an employee of TriedandTrue Armory. I am in no way receiving any compensation or consideration for this review.
I have no doubt that any ammount of cajoling, pleading and or begging would still result in my paying full retail from TriedandTrue as Tom K. and Hiroshi are notorious hardcases, and immune to such chiselling maneuvers :lol:
Initial Impressions-
The sword made the trip from Oregon to Ohio in three days, and arrived in good order. There was no damage sustained in transit and all was as advertised.
The sword was packaged in an unconventional manner versus your usual cardboard box set up. It was secured with a cardboard sleeve over the blade, one over the hilt and cross guard, and secured in a cardboard envelope with standoffs to keep it from shifting around inside.
Quite a new approach, and one that seems to work really well. The bulk of a cardboard box is removed and the sword is still as well protected as any that I have ever received.
Overall views of the sword as I first viewed it after unpackaging it.
I have to say that after my reading up on the Type XIX blade, I still was not quite ready for what I received. This blade has spine!
Owing to its flattened hexagonal profile, this sword has presence and rigidity in spades. Upon picking it up I instantly was under the impression that I could thrust this sword with no worries about the blade folding or flexing enough to decrease the force of the thrust. I am at this point becoming convinced that this sword may very well be the do it all type that many of us are looking for.
The above picture shows the ricasso of the blade and the twin fullers outlining the ricasso. The Mercenary grade sword offered by TriedandTrue has blackened fullers because they are not polished out to finish the sword. This is a measure adopted to cut costs in an effort to get an affordable sword in the hands of a practitioner that will perform as a sword of its given type should.
I find the effect pleasing, as it lends less of a polished appearance, and more of a business like aspect to the sword.
Showing the termination of the main fuller, and the clearly defined hexagonal profile of the blade. Again, you will note that the termination of the fuller is not as clean and well defined as on a higher grade of finished blade, but it is done this way on purpose.
What may not be apparent in the photos is the overall finsh of the blade. It is finished in a lower grit that a more refined and higher grade sword would be. this again is a measure adopted to keep the cost of the blade more affordable for the practitioner or collector. Once again I find it most agreeable as it lends to the overall impression that this blade was made to be carried onto the field and used.
Showing the termination of the hexagonal profile of the blade body and the transition to the tip.
The tip of this sword is in no way a delicate needle, it is substantial and is backed by the mass of the blade body. My impression is that this is going to be a magnificent thruster.
This sword arrived in a state of sharpness that I would call "watch out" meaning that it was paper cutting sharp and with no secondary bevels. Tuck in the toes!!
Tom K. of TriedandTrue Armory has since fessed up that he touched up the edge before shipping it out, and he described it as a " Rough and unpolished" edge.
I submit to you, that if the edge on this sword is rough and unpolished, I suspect that if Tom gave it his full house treatment, I would stand a btter than average chance of being able to cut through a tank with this sword
Specs and details-
Weight- 2lbs 5 oz
Overall length- 40 inches
Blade length- 33 and 1/4 inches
grip length- 4 and 1/4 inches
Point of balance- 6 and 1/4 inches in front of the guard
Blade thickness- At the Ricasso= .207
At the termination of the main fuller midway down the blade= .125
At the termination of the Hexagonal section and transition to the tip profile= .108
Center of percussion- Amazing.........
This sword has a sweet spot that starts at 18 inches from the front of the cross and extends out to 24 inches.
I am assuming that this is due to the cross section of the blade, and its subsequent rigidity. Yeah, I dig this feature a whole lot. There is a lot to be said for a blade that will forgive you your stance and form.
A photo in hand. The grip is roomy enough for my needs and affords plenty of room for those with larger mitts. My hand in this picture measures 3 and 1/2 inches from outside of index finger to outside of pinky.
Showing the fit of the guard to the blade ricasso. The guard has a milled slot in it to accept the blade shoulder and is cleanly executed. The slot is slightly wider than the width of the blade, but fits very closely to the ricasso. Overall the skill and care that went into the fit up is plainly evident.
Two shots showing the Tang and the transition to the blade shoulders. No problems in evidence here, and the quality of construction one would expect from an Angus trim blade is present.
The sword broken down into its component parts showing the hex nut construction method employed on this and many other Angus trim swords.
The milled slot in the cross to accept the blade and the tang slot on the reverse of the guard. Cleanly done, with no slop or evidence of an attempt to "Make it fit" This guard was fitted to this blade with an eye towards solid construction.
The slot in the pommel used to key it to the tang when assembled. Once again, there is no evidence that it was produced and then just made to work with this blade. it fits the tang with minimal clearance and when tightened up, there is no evidence of play whatsoever.
The grip, showing the seam where the leather grip wrap is glued. The grip was leaned against the pommel for stability.
The grip is leather over a cord wrap that is then dyed. The grip is dyed to look as if it has been used and worn, and achieves that very well.
I have been told by others who know him, that Mr. Trims least favorite part of making a sword is doing the grip. While the grip wrap on this grip may not be of the quality one would expect from the likes of Christian Fletcher, it is still well done and entirely serviceable. The edges of the leather are skived and the seam does not protrude at all. The seam is also not as straight as one usually sees on higher end blades, but keep in mind the idea behind this blade, which was to produce a quality blade that performs well for a minimal cost.
I find that the grip adds to the overall aesthetic of this sword, which is a weapon that is made to be used.
Handling-
The handling on this sword is where it really shines. The point of balance is far enough out to lend it plenty of blade presence, but not far enough out that it becomes unwieldy. The sword sits in the hand fine, but it is letting you know the whole time that it is time to cut.
The sword starts in the cutting stroke with very little effort, and reverses as easily as a sword that was balanced closer to the cross.
I found myself puzzling over how a blade of this weight balanced that far out from the crosss guard could be so responsive, I then gave up trying to come up with a reason for it and accepted the fact that this sword is exactly what I wanted.
An authoritative cutter with a wide sweet spot, very forgiving of edge alignment, and the ability to thrust without blade deflection.
Cutting-
It is very cold here right now, and we have a large ammount of snow and ice on the ground. I risked the "run out and cut quickly" routine one time before realizing that a sharp blade in the hands of a maniac on ice was not going to end well. I managed to flail at a gallon milk jug and was surprised that my lack of technique and shivering like a scared cat still produced clean cuts. my edge alignment was poor I am sure, but the blade did not seem to mind a bit. That was all I managed before discretion got the upper hand over valor.
Therefore I submit to you, a video that Tom K. of TriedandTrue Armory made of himself cutting with this very sword
Conclusion-
Overall this sword was everything that I was anticipating and more.
I was more than happy with the overall aesthetic of the Mercenary grade treatment applied to this sword, it looks as if it belongs to a man at arms who is not concerned so much with the visual appeal of his weapon, but more with its functionality on the field.
Pros-
A genuine Angus Trim made blade for $350.00
A very good representation of the under represented in the market, Type XIX blade
Handling, whether by luck or the gods smiling on me, is exactly what I wanted
Construction is tight with no squeaks, rattles, or blemishes apparent.
Cons-
To really reach and pick at nits, the grip wrap is the only apparent thing that one could possibly take issue with on this blade. Taken with the grade of sword that this is, and the attempt to keep costs down, I do not consider it a negative, but some very well may. Be advised
I would highly recommend that anyone who wishes to acquire a type XIX sword, take a long look at this model. The Mercenary grade puts true Gus Trim swords more within the reach of the backyard practitioner and affords them the chance to step up to a performance blade without topping the $300 dollar mark by too much. And if we face it, if you are going to cut with your sword, why do we need the fancy polish and sparkly blade?
I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!