Odinblade Xa Sword
Dec 9, 2011 8:28:44 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 9, 2011 8:28:44 GMT
OdinBlades Xa Sword -- Sean O. Stevens
Grovetown, GA
Introduction
I acquired this sword some time ago... but after having had it for only a short time I sent it to fellow SBG member Slayer of Darkness to have a custom scabbard/belt made for it. He had the blade for a long time and I only recently was re-united with this sweet piece of Odin Steel. You can see the rig in the pic above... but I'll be doing a different review of it and other leather work I have gotten from Slayer, this review is about the Odinblade.
I bought this sword from 'The Odin Dude' , John Lundemo ( www.odinblades.com/ ) when he posted on the old SBG forum about a few bare blades he had not yet sold or made into swords. He asked if anyone wanted to claim one... and I jumped on this one. I had been wanting an OdinBlade for a while at that point... and had talked to John about a couple projects but had not settled on one yet. The geometry of this sword was so unique... the only other sword I have ever seen ever remotely like it was the Albion Oakeshott ( www.albion-swords.com/swords/alb ... photos.htm ) and even that was not an exact match.
So I decided to make this one my first Odinblade... and the rest, as they say, is history.
Historical overview
John called this sword a type Xa... tho Oakeshott's typologies can sometimes be tricky and this is by no means a typical example of what most people think of as a type Xa sword, it could be argued to be a type XIII as well. Its a wide, thin cutting blade with a spatula tip... but it has a double fuller/ridge design and is hollow ground... its just such an amazingly unique weapon. Also, the blade is a bit short at 28 inches.
Trying to figure where this sword fits historically gives me a headache... so I don't think about it to much.
Full Disclosure
I paid full price for this sword... and received no compensation for its review. I am not a history expert... not am I trained in the use of this style of sword. I have martial arts training, some fencing training, and some training with knives. I'm a lover and collector of all weapons of history, with no specific preference in culture of time period. I've just always love the warrior culture in all its forms. I have owned hundreds of different swords and weapons, and handled many, MANY more. I consider myself an experienced amateur, and my reviews are written from that perspective.
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a wooden create that John had built just for this sword. It surprised me... and was a REAL pain in the @#$ to open. :lol: Still, I was impressed. A Few custom makers... who really care about their craft and their work do this... but John was the first one I had seen do it.
I pulled the sword from the create and smiled... the balance and feel of the sword was like nothing I had owned before... and I had a hard time putting the sword down.
Statistics
Blade Length: 27.8 inches
Blade Width (Base): 2.2 inches
Blade Width (1 inch from tip): 1.3 inches
Handle Length: 4.9 inches
Overall Length: 35.1 inches
Guard Width: 6.7 inches
POB (Point of Balance): 3.5 inches
Weight: *
* I'm not sure of the weight, I don't have a scale that I can use to measure it well. Based on my other swords as a refrence point, I'd say its between 2.4 -2.8 lbs.
Components
The Blade
By FAR the most impressive feature of this sword. The blade on this sword is unlike anything else I have ever owned or even seen. Its such a complex geometry... there are two close together ridges which create a sort of a central fuller... but outside of these ridges the blade is hollow ground as well, which almost makes outer fullers. I'm not even sure how to best describe it... so I'll let the pictures do so.
The sword is VERY sharp. The edge is not perfectly symmetrical... there are parts where it wavers a bit but is sharp everywhere. The nature of the non perfect symmetry lends this sword more of the hand made look to me.
The spatula tip is wonderful for tip cuts... the whole blade screams 'sheer something!'
The Handle/Grip
The grip on this sword is an aged dark brown color... and just perfect for me. I have large meat paws and often have trouble finding good grips on a sword... this one fits like a glove. Not too thin, not too thick, not too long, not too short... JUST right. The seem is invisible and the texture of the grip is very comfortable.
The Guard
The guard is a bow tie guard, and of blackened steel. The grip fits VERY nicely to the guard... and it is slotted well for the blade also. There is no rattle or looseness of any kind.
The Pommel
The pommel is also blackened steel, type H, and peened.
The Scabbard
The scabbard made for this sword was made separate by Slayer of Darkness... and I'll cover it in another review focused on Slayer's leatherwork.
Handling Characteristics
This sword is an absolute JOY to wield. Its fast and light, almost floaty in hand... but still has some blade presence and cuts VERY well. It moves quickly from guard to cut back to guard... and changes in direction are quick and without effort. Tho its very simple to look upon... once you hold it in hand you can tell your holding something special.
I have a friend who likes to check out my new swords whenever he comes by... I have had many high quality swords in my collection... Albions, A&A's, Mad Dwarf Workshop, A&A, Atrims, and others... and he always likes to grab and swing about my Odin Xa. Tho its one of the most plain looking swords in my collection... it BEGS to be held and moved.
Test Cutting
I've done a fair amount of cutting with this blade... but here is a short little vid.
Conclusions
This sword is one of my personal favorites. I've sold many swords recently... but this is one of a handful of swords I decided was not even going to be an option to sell. Its sure a unique and interesting blade... it handles so amazingly well... its a blast to go through drills with and cut with. I love this blade.
Pros
Custom attention to detail.
Unique geometry.
AMAZING Balance and performance.
Surprisingly low price for custom blade.
Cons
Wait time can be long and is not always 100% on target date. John does great work, and is thus in HIGH demand. The end result is WELL worth waiting for, but if your a 'Need it now' sort, you might want to look at Odinblades new Longship line as opposed to a full custom.
The Bottom Line
If you have an idea you want made steel... I would ABSOLUTELY recommend you contact John at Odinblades and talk with him. I own two of his blades, and intend to own many more. His work is some of the best I have ever seen... and I have seen a LOT. His prices for the quality of the work are a bargain in the sword market... and I can not fathoom anyone regretting getting an Odinblade.
Thanks for reading!
Grovetown, GA
Introduction
I acquired this sword some time ago... but after having had it for only a short time I sent it to fellow SBG member Slayer of Darkness to have a custom scabbard/belt made for it. He had the blade for a long time and I only recently was re-united with this sweet piece of Odin Steel. You can see the rig in the pic above... but I'll be doing a different review of it and other leather work I have gotten from Slayer, this review is about the Odinblade.
I bought this sword from 'The Odin Dude' , John Lundemo ( www.odinblades.com/ ) when he posted on the old SBG forum about a few bare blades he had not yet sold or made into swords. He asked if anyone wanted to claim one... and I jumped on this one. I had been wanting an OdinBlade for a while at that point... and had talked to John about a couple projects but had not settled on one yet. The geometry of this sword was so unique... the only other sword I have ever seen ever remotely like it was the Albion Oakeshott ( www.albion-swords.com/swords/alb ... photos.htm ) and even that was not an exact match.
So I decided to make this one my first Odinblade... and the rest, as they say, is history.
Historical overview
John called this sword a type Xa... tho Oakeshott's typologies can sometimes be tricky and this is by no means a typical example of what most people think of as a type Xa sword, it could be argued to be a type XIII as well. Its a wide, thin cutting blade with a spatula tip... but it has a double fuller/ridge design and is hollow ground... its just such an amazingly unique weapon. Also, the blade is a bit short at 28 inches.
Trying to figure where this sword fits historically gives me a headache... so I don't think about it to much.
Full Disclosure
I paid full price for this sword... and received no compensation for its review. I am not a history expert... not am I trained in the use of this style of sword. I have martial arts training, some fencing training, and some training with knives. I'm a lover and collector of all weapons of history, with no specific preference in culture of time period. I've just always love the warrior culture in all its forms. I have owned hundreds of different swords and weapons, and handled many, MANY more. I consider myself an experienced amateur, and my reviews are written from that perspective.
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a wooden create that John had built just for this sword. It surprised me... and was a REAL pain in the @#$ to open. :lol: Still, I was impressed. A Few custom makers... who really care about their craft and their work do this... but John was the first one I had seen do it.
I pulled the sword from the create and smiled... the balance and feel of the sword was like nothing I had owned before... and I had a hard time putting the sword down.
Statistics
Blade Length: 27.8 inches
Blade Width (Base): 2.2 inches
Blade Width (1 inch from tip): 1.3 inches
Handle Length: 4.9 inches
Overall Length: 35.1 inches
Guard Width: 6.7 inches
POB (Point of Balance): 3.5 inches
Weight: *
* I'm not sure of the weight, I don't have a scale that I can use to measure it well. Based on my other swords as a refrence point, I'd say its between 2.4 -2.8 lbs.
Components
The Blade
By FAR the most impressive feature of this sword. The blade on this sword is unlike anything else I have ever owned or even seen. Its such a complex geometry... there are two close together ridges which create a sort of a central fuller... but outside of these ridges the blade is hollow ground as well, which almost makes outer fullers. I'm not even sure how to best describe it... so I'll let the pictures do so.
The sword is VERY sharp. The edge is not perfectly symmetrical... there are parts where it wavers a bit but is sharp everywhere. The nature of the non perfect symmetry lends this sword more of the hand made look to me.
The spatula tip is wonderful for tip cuts... the whole blade screams 'sheer something!'
The Handle/Grip
The grip on this sword is an aged dark brown color... and just perfect for me. I have large meat paws and often have trouble finding good grips on a sword... this one fits like a glove. Not too thin, not too thick, not too long, not too short... JUST right. The seem is invisible and the texture of the grip is very comfortable.
The Guard
The guard is a bow tie guard, and of blackened steel. The grip fits VERY nicely to the guard... and it is slotted well for the blade also. There is no rattle or looseness of any kind.
The Pommel
The pommel is also blackened steel, type H, and peened.
The Scabbard
The scabbard made for this sword was made separate by Slayer of Darkness... and I'll cover it in another review focused on Slayer's leatherwork.
Handling Characteristics
This sword is an absolute JOY to wield. Its fast and light, almost floaty in hand... but still has some blade presence and cuts VERY well. It moves quickly from guard to cut back to guard... and changes in direction are quick and without effort. Tho its very simple to look upon... once you hold it in hand you can tell your holding something special.
I have a friend who likes to check out my new swords whenever he comes by... I have had many high quality swords in my collection... Albions, A&A's, Mad Dwarf Workshop, A&A, Atrims, and others... and he always likes to grab and swing about my Odin Xa. Tho its one of the most plain looking swords in my collection... it BEGS to be held and moved.
Test Cutting
I've done a fair amount of cutting with this blade... but here is a short little vid.
Conclusions
This sword is one of my personal favorites. I've sold many swords recently... but this is one of a handful of swords I decided was not even going to be an option to sell. Its sure a unique and interesting blade... it handles so amazingly well... its a blast to go through drills with and cut with. I love this blade.
Pros
Custom attention to detail.
Unique geometry.
AMAZING Balance and performance.
Surprisingly low price for custom blade.
Cons
Wait time can be long and is not always 100% on target date. John does great work, and is thus in HIGH demand. The end result is WELL worth waiting for, but if your a 'Need it now' sort, you might want to look at Odinblades new Longship line as opposed to a full custom.
The Bottom Line
If you have an idea you want made steel... I would ABSOLUTELY recommend you contact John at Odinblades and talk with him. I own two of his blades, and intend to own many more. His work is some of the best I have ever seen... and I have seen a LOT. His prices for the quality of the work are a bargain in the sword market... and I can not fathoom anyone regretting getting an Odinblade.
Thanks for reading!