Fable Blades Gurthang
May 25, 2011 15:31:02 GMT
Post by SwordFan on May 25, 2011 15:31:02 GMT
Introduction:
Well it has been a while since Iv posted a review and Iv been threatening to do so for a while now with a couple of new swords being added to my collection over the past couple of months . So this will be a bit of a process as Iv still been getting to know some of my new blades, with free time being a rare commodity lately with a young family and a new addition set to arrive in November this year .
So Ill be reviewing the following over the next week :
Fable Blades Gurthang
Fable Blades Anduril
Fable Blades Excalibur
Christian Fletcher Borderwatch
Castle Keep French Knight Sword
They wont be too detailed at first as I plan on doing a short write up of each and then ill add to the reviews as I get to spend some more time with them .
So having said all of that Ill be starting off with the Gurthang From Fable Blades
This was my first purchase from Brendan and to say that I was impressed with both his work and customer service is an understatement .This was a difficult purchase for me as I kept changing my mind as to which of Brendan’s in stock items I was going to purchase . I was torn between the Anduril , Felarof and Gurthang . In the end I could not resist Gurthang purely as it was something different and I liked the fact that one could remove the leaf guard and then still have a functional sword (sort of two swords wrapped up in one package) . I later ended up picking up the Anduril and hopefully Ill be able to get the Felarof sometime soon as well .
My experience dealing with Brendan was nothing short of outstanding . His customer service is out of the top tier and he put up with numerous e mails from me answering each and everyone of them .
After completing the purchase there was the long wait for the sword to arrive ,this was no fault of Brendan’s ,but rather the courier company (needless to say I have not used the same company again!!) .Without going into all the details basically they decided to take the sword via Singapore to me ,this resulted in the sword getting stuck in Singapore for almost 2 weeks as a special permit is required in Singapore for swords (even if the sword is only passing through Singapore as flights change !) . Brendan was great here as he managed to get things sorted out with the couriers and eventually it was back on it’s way to me . When it eventually arrived with me I was eagerly awaiting to open my first Custom piece . This is where the second problem occurred , after opening the package I discovered that the Cross Guard was missing and that the certificate had been cut in half basically . Turns out that Customs in Singapore had decided to open the package and removed the guard . I contacted Brendan and he was very helpful ,not only did he contact the couriers to try and obtain the original guard ,but he set about creating a replacement guard for me in the meantime . After asking for a couple of measurements he created a new guard for me (which arrived in really good time) which fitted perfectly . Eventually a while later the couriers located the original guard in Singapore which they then delivered to me with some rust on it (from Singapore’s Customs handling it ). A couple minutes of polishing with Metal Glo removed the rust and at long last the ordeal with using this particular courier service was over . I can gladly report that with my second and third purchase there were no such delays or problems as we used a different Courier service who were much more reliable and professional .
Courier problems aside ,Brendan's service and help was really out of the top tier .
So with all that being said it’s now on to the review
Historical overview:
This is a Functional Fantasy sword and as such has no real historical overview ,but here is a description taken from the Fable Blade’s listing :
Gurthang / Anglachel
Forged by Eöl, a dark Elf. Anglachel was given to Thingol in return for freedom to dwell in his forest. But Anglachel had the dark heart of it's maker, and was to taste innocent blood and bring much sorrow.
The blade is inscribed with Angerthas Cirth reading
"I AM GURTHANG"
"SWIFTLY I SLAY THEE"
Turin spoke with Gurthang: "Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?" And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: "Yes, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly."
Specs:
Weight: Without Leaf 1245g (2lb 12oz), With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)
Overall Length: 1025mm (40.5")
Blade Length: 810mm (32")
Hilt Length: 215mm (8.5")
Guard Width: 255mm (10")
Point of Balance: With Leaf 75mm (3") / Without leaf 90mm (3.6")
Blade Node of Percussion: 490mm (19.3")
Hilt Node of Percussion: Grip / Guard junction.
The grip is very rare Western Australian Lace Sheoak (Allocasuarina Fraserana). Chosen for it's fiery figuring, as Anglachel was forged of iron from a flaming star.
Initial Impressions:
After I had eventually had the whole sword assembled and taken a step back it was simply WOW !Brendan’s workmanship is outstanding with extreme attention paid to even the smallest of details .I love the wood he used and the detail on the leaf guard is amazing .All in all it really does make you feel like a elven warrior fit for a place in Tolkien’s world .
Statistics:
Taken from Fable Blades :
Weight: Without Leaf 1245g (2lb 12oz), With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)
Overall Length: 1025mm (40.5")
Blade Length: 810mm (32")
Hilt Length: 215mm (8.5")
Guard Width: 255mm (10")
Point of Balance: With Leaf 75mm (3") / Without leaf 90mm (3.6")
Blade Node of Percussion: 490mm (19.3")
Hilt Node of Percussion: Grip / Guard junction.
The grip is very rare Western Australian Lace Sheoak (Allocasuarina Fraserana). Chosen for it's fiery figuring, as Anglachel was forged of iron from a flaming star.
Components:
The Blade:
The blade has been darkened and has a very nice edge on it which handles mats and bottles with ease .
The blade is inscribed with Angerthas Cirth reading"I AM GURTHANG" "SWIFTLY I SLAY THEE" and is very well done at the base near the guard . If you look closer towards the tip you will notice the “cut out” edge (which Brendan used on his Wraith Swords as well) .This gives it a battle worn sort of look ,almost as if it were really out of Tolkien’s world .
The Handle:
This is one of my favorite parts ,the wood Brendan used for this sword handle is really very nice and adds a lot of character to the piece .
The Guard:
This is made of two parts :
1)The Leaf Guard :
This is a very detailed guard which takes some getting used to when handling due to the shape .That said it did not take much time to feel comfortable with it in hand ,ready to slay some orc’s .
2)The Cross Guard is an interesting shape ,one best described by the pictures.
The fact that one can remove the leaf guard is what really appealed to me as it allows one two different swords .That being said I do prefer it with the leaf guard on as it just looks great .
The Pommel:
The Pommel is a similar type as what Brendan used on the Wraith swords and is something I personally like as it adds a nice balance to the sword .
Handling Characteristics:
This Ill have to split into two sections as she handles differently with the leaf guard attached to it :
With The Leaf Guard :
With the leaf guard she is a little heavier[With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)] and a little slower overall . This being said she does not feel heavy at all due to the great balance of the piece .
Without The Leaf Guard :
There is no doubt that she handles better without the guard and becomes a lot more lively in hand .
All in all if asked which I prefer I would have to say I am a fan of the Leaf Guard and prefer it on . Its difficult to explain but when wielding her with the leaf guard on she feels more like a side sword cut and thrust type ,remove the leaf guard and she feels more like a lively broadsword .
Cutting:
Iv done some cutting with her using mats and bottles and she is a fine cutter . I was expecting to find that when it comes to cutting that she would perform better without the leaf guard ,this however was not the case entirely . Strangely enough I found when cutting bottles I preferred the leaf guard off and with mats I enjoyed the little extra weight on . Its most probably just a personal preference ,but there you have it . As a bit of a side note though I accidentally cut into the cutting stand whilst cutting with not even a scratch left on the blade and she bit pretty deeply into the stand ,so a nice tough little cutter .The edge has held up well so far and has required no attention what so ever .
Conclusions:
This is one of my favorite swords and will always hold a special place in my collection with it being my first Fable Blade .It was my first custom piece and has since changed my tastes in swords completely . I would now much rather have 5 to 6 custom swords a year than 15 production pieces . I just do not get the same level of enjoyment when comparing my production pieces to my custom pieces . I know its like comparing apples with oranges ,but with custom pieces you get a whole new level of attention to detail .Yes there is a price to pay for this attention ,but in my opinion it’s one I would rather pay than have 4 production pieces .
Pros:
Great Customer service from Brendan at Fable Blades
Attention to detail
Great performing blade
Two swords in one with different handling aspects
A piece of art fit for Tolkien’s fantasy world
Cons:
Honestly I would have to really try and make something up here as personally I love it and would not change a thing .The issues I had were with the courier service ,other than that it’s a sword that when you hold it gives you that warm feeling inside and ultimately it lead to me purchasing 2 more Fable Blades in a short period of time .
The Bottom Line:
Yes Custom pieces are generally not cheap and do cost more than production pieces ,but I can honestly say that personally I think they are worth it especially when purchasing from someone like Brendan who works with you all the way .
Well it has been a while since Iv posted a review and Iv been threatening to do so for a while now with a couple of new swords being added to my collection over the past couple of months . So this will be a bit of a process as Iv still been getting to know some of my new blades, with free time being a rare commodity lately with a young family and a new addition set to arrive in November this year .
So Ill be reviewing the following over the next week :
Fable Blades Gurthang
Fable Blades Anduril
Fable Blades Excalibur
Christian Fletcher Borderwatch
Castle Keep French Knight Sword
They wont be too detailed at first as I plan on doing a short write up of each and then ill add to the reviews as I get to spend some more time with them .
So having said all of that Ill be starting off with the Gurthang From Fable Blades
This was my first purchase from Brendan and to say that I was impressed with both his work and customer service is an understatement .This was a difficult purchase for me as I kept changing my mind as to which of Brendan’s in stock items I was going to purchase . I was torn between the Anduril , Felarof and Gurthang . In the end I could not resist Gurthang purely as it was something different and I liked the fact that one could remove the leaf guard and then still have a functional sword (sort of two swords wrapped up in one package) . I later ended up picking up the Anduril and hopefully Ill be able to get the Felarof sometime soon as well .
My experience dealing with Brendan was nothing short of outstanding . His customer service is out of the top tier and he put up with numerous e mails from me answering each and everyone of them .
After completing the purchase there was the long wait for the sword to arrive ,this was no fault of Brendan’s ,but rather the courier company (needless to say I have not used the same company again!!) .Without going into all the details basically they decided to take the sword via Singapore to me ,this resulted in the sword getting stuck in Singapore for almost 2 weeks as a special permit is required in Singapore for swords (even if the sword is only passing through Singapore as flights change !) . Brendan was great here as he managed to get things sorted out with the couriers and eventually it was back on it’s way to me . When it eventually arrived with me I was eagerly awaiting to open my first Custom piece . This is where the second problem occurred , after opening the package I discovered that the Cross Guard was missing and that the certificate had been cut in half basically . Turns out that Customs in Singapore had decided to open the package and removed the guard . I contacted Brendan and he was very helpful ,not only did he contact the couriers to try and obtain the original guard ,but he set about creating a replacement guard for me in the meantime . After asking for a couple of measurements he created a new guard for me (which arrived in really good time) which fitted perfectly . Eventually a while later the couriers located the original guard in Singapore which they then delivered to me with some rust on it (from Singapore’s Customs handling it ). A couple minutes of polishing with Metal Glo removed the rust and at long last the ordeal with using this particular courier service was over . I can gladly report that with my second and third purchase there were no such delays or problems as we used a different Courier service who were much more reliable and professional .
Courier problems aside ,Brendan's service and help was really out of the top tier .
So with all that being said it’s now on to the review
Historical overview:
This is a Functional Fantasy sword and as such has no real historical overview ,but here is a description taken from the Fable Blade’s listing :
Gurthang / Anglachel
Forged by Eöl, a dark Elf. Anglachel was given to Thingol in return for freedom to dwell in his forest. But Anglachel had the dark heart of it's maker, and was to taste innocent blood and bring much sorrow.
The blade is inscribed with Angerthas Cirth reading
"I AM GURTHANG"
"SWIFTLY I SLAY THEE"
Turin spoke with Gurthang: "Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?" And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: "Yes, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly."
Specs:
Weight: Without Leaf 1245g (2lb 12oz), With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)
Overall Length: 1025mm (40.5")
Blade Length: 810mm (32")
Hilt Length: 215mm (8.5")
Guard Width: 255mm (10")
Point of Balance: With Leaf 75mm (3") / Without leaf 90mm (3.6")
Blade Node of Percussion: 490mm (19.3")
Hilt Node of Percussion: Grip / Guard junction.
The grip is very rare Western Australian Lace Sheoak (Allocasuarina Fraserana). Chosen for it's fiery figuring, as Anglachel was forged of iron from a flaming star.
Initial Impressions:
After I had eventually had the whole sword assembled and taken a step back it was simply WOW !Brendan’s workmanship is outstanding with extreme attention paid to even the smallest of details .I love the wood he used and the detail on the leaf guard is amazing .All in all it really does make you feel like a elven warrior fit for a place in Tolkien’s world .
Statistics:
Taken from Fable Blades :
Weight: Without Leaf 1245g (2lb 12oz), With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)
Overall Length: 1025mm (40.5")
Blade Length: 810mm (32")
Hilt Length: 215mm (8.5")
Guard Width: 255mm (10")
Point of Balance: With Leaf 75mm (3") / Without leaf 90mm (3.6")
Blade Node of Percussion: 490mm (19.3")
Hilt Node of Percussion: Grip / Guard junction.
The grip is very rare Western Australian Lace Sheoak (Allocasuarina Fraserana). Chosen for it's fiery figuring, as Anglachel was forged of iron from a flaming star.
Components:
The Blade:
The blade has been darkened and has a very nice edge on it which handles mats and bottles with ease .
The blade is inscribed with Angerthas Cirth reading"I AM GURTHANG" "SWIFTLY I SLAY THEE" and is very well done at the base near the guard . If you look closer towards the tip you will notice the “cut out” edge (which Brendan used on his Wraith Swords as well) .This gives it a battle worn sort of look ,almost as if it were really out of Tolkien’s world .
The Handle:
This is one of my favorite parts ,the wood Brendan used for this sword handle is really very nice and adds a lot of character to the piece .
The Guard:
This is made of two parts :
1)The Leaf Guard :
This is a very detailed guard which takes some getting used to when handling due to the shape .That said it did not take much time to feel comfortable with it in hand ,ready to slay some orc’s .
2)The Cross Guard is an interesting shape ,one best described by the pictures.
The fact that one can remove the leaf guard is what really appealed to me as it allows one two different swords .That being said I do prefer it with the leaf guard on as it just looks great .
The Pommel:
The Pommel is a similar type as what Brendan used on the Wraith swords and is something I personally like as it adds a nice balance to the sword .
Handling Characteristics:
This Ill have to split into two sections as she handles differently with the leaf guard attached to it :
With The Leaf Guard :
With the leaf guard she is a little heavier[With Leaf 1480g (3lb 4oz)] and a little slower overall . This being said she does not feel heavy at all due to the great balance of the piece .
Without The Leaf Guard :
There is no doubt that she handles better without the guard and becomes a lot more lively in hand .
All in all if asked which I prefer I would have to say I am a fan of the Leaf Guard and prefer it on . Its difficult to explain but when wielding her with the leaf guard on she feels more like a side sword cut and thrust type ,remove the leaf guard and she feels more like a lively broadsword .
Cutting:
Iv done some cutting with her using mats and bottles and she is a fine cutter . I was expecting to find that when it comes to cutting that she would perform better without the leaf guard ,this however was not the case entirely . Strangely enough I found when cutting bottles I preferred the leaf guard off and with mats I enjoyed the little extra weight on . Its most probably just a personal preference ,but there you have it . As a bit of a side note though I accidentally cut into the cutting stand whilst cutting with not even a scratch left on the blade and she bit pretty deeply into the stand ,so a nice tough little cutter .The edge has held up well so far and has required no attention what so ever .
Conclusions:
This is one of my favorite swords and will always hold a special place in my collection with it being my first Fable Blade .It was my first custom piece and has since changed my tastes in swords completely . I would now much rather have 5 to 6 custom swords a year than 15 production pieces . I just do not get the same level of enjoyment when comparing my production pieces to my custom pieces . I know its like comparing apples with oranges ,but with custom pieces you get a whole new level of attention to detail .Yes there is a price to pay for this attention ,but in my opinion it’s one I would rather pay than have 4 production pieces .
Pros:
Great Customer service from Brendan at Fable Blades
Attention to detail
Great performing blade
Two swords in one with different handling aspects
A piece of art fit for Tolkien’s fantasy world
Cons:
Honestly I would have to really try and make something up here as personally I love it and would not change a thing .The issues I had were with the courier service ,other than that it’s a sword that when you hold it gives you that warm feeling inside and ultimately it lead to me purchasing 2 more Fable Blades in a short period of time .
The Bottom Line:
Yes Custom pieces are generally not cheap and do cost more than production pieces ,but I can honestly say that personally I think they are worth it especially when purchasing from someone like Brendan who works with you all the way .