Fable Blades 'Shadowfang' Sword
Dec 17, 2011 1:52:17 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 17, 2011 1:52:17 GMT
Fable Blades 'Shadowfang' -- Sean O. Stevens
Grovetown, GA
Introduction
This sword was an idea I had for some time... and after having a few Fable Blades made by our own home grown swordmaker Brenno, I knew he was perfect for this perticular sword. I sent him a general idea and sketch of what I had in mind... and in 24 hours I had gotten back a couple sketches and ideas. We did a little back and forth and settled on a design, and I sent him half down and he got started.
Durring the whole making of Shadowfang... Brenno was always in touch with pics and updates on an almost day to day basis. The comunication he has with his clients while making a sword is unheard of in the industy. He bouncd ideas and suggestions off me durring the building of the sword, sent new pics at each stage of the building, and offered ideas and suggestions on how to improve aspects of the design or make changes he thought might work.
True to form, he was done and the sword shipped in a mere 6-7 weeks or so. This was the case with the other swords I've order from Brenno as well. His work ethic and comunication are above and beyond anything I've ever encountered in the area of custom made swords.
The finished product can be seen here: fableblades.com/Wolf.html
Historical overview
This a pure fantasy design... one of my own creation with a lot of input from Brenno... and has no real historical precident.
Full Disclosure
This sword was a design of my own, made real by Brenno of Fable Blades, and paid for in full by me. No compensation was given me in exchange for this review... indeed... I have had this sword for a good long while now, and the review is long overdue. All opinions of the sword and of Fable Blades and Brenno are my own honestly held impressions and thoughts.
Initial Impressions
I had mixed first impressions of this sword.
On the one hand... I had more excitment for this sword then any other before hand. This was an idea and design I had kicking around my head for many years... and as such that sets the bar pretty damn high. :lol: Its one thing when you just buy a sword and hope it lives up to expectations... but its another when a sword has to live up to long held hopes and dreams.
That said... when I took the sword out and looked at it... it took my breath away. It was like nothing else to have had this vision in your mind so long... and now hold it in your hand before you for REAL. Its an amazing feeling... and something everyone who is considering having a full custom sword made should do at least once. I had a couple Fable blades before... but one was designed for my wife, the other was designed to match an existing dagger Brenno had already made. THIS was the first sword that sprang whole from my mind and became real steel... and it was a very intense feeling to hold it in hand the first time.
The rough, hammered finished was part of my design. I wanted the blade to look as if it were rough forged ags ago from some fallen space rock... the wolves carved into the grip are very personal to me... the ring pommel is meant to represent the full moon and the cresent guard the wanning moon. The gemstone changles color from purple, blue-ish, green-ish... the design on the ricasso matches the one on my wife's FoxJian... it was all so overwhelming seeing it in hand at first.
I had only a couple issues when looking upon Shadowfang the first time. The guard was just a TAD too small... it was meant to match the pommel in width, but it came out a tad smaller. I knew this LONG before the sword was in my hands, Brenno informed me and I ok'ed it from pics... so I was cool with it, but still a tad sad about it when I first got it. Also... when holding and swinging it about at first, I didn't bond with it right away. I fell in love with my wife's FoxJian at first touch... the speed and handling amazed me. Shadowfang was thicker a leafblade with a large swell... the feel was dramaticly different and didn't grab me at first touch.
Those two issue aside... I was blown away that this amazing piece of steel was sitting in front of me, when only 2 months before it had been only ideas and sketches. It blew my mind.
Statistics
Blade Length: 25.6 inches
Handle Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 33.4 inches
Guard Width: 2 & 1/8th inches
POB (Point of Balance): 3.9 inches from guard
COP (Center of Percussion): 16 inches from guard
Weight: 2lbs 5oz
Components
The Blade
I love the blade on this sword... its so unique. Its a wide slashing leafblade, but it has a needle like tip for wicked stabbing. The ricasso has this awesome hammered look to it... and the fuller is DEEP and wide and blackedned. The whole look and shape and impression of the blade to me is something that is both earthy and otherworldly... something from a time long ago but also a time that never was. Its everything I wanted it to be.
Its not the sharpest sword... Brenno's blades tend to favor durability over a razor edge... but there is no visable bevels and everything just looks RIGHT to me.
The Handle/Grip
The grip is purpleheart... and features a carved wolf head on each side... one facing the full moon (the pommel) and one fasing the cresent moon. (the guard)
The grip is a good size for me at 5 inches... my big fat meatpaws fit will and comfortable.
The Guard
The guard is a Cresent shape... made with the same hammered rough finish as the ricasso and pommel... and with a gemstone set on both sides. Its near perfect... but as I mentioned just a tad smaller then I wanted. More then enough to keep ons hand from the blade tho. I wanted it sleek and small.
The blade and grip are fit to the gaurd amazingly well.
The Pommel
The pommel is THICK and solid... with the beefy tang running threw it and the makers mark there clear on the tang. The peen is also big and bulky, lending to the rough and durable look of the sword. All of this is EXACTLY as I pictured it in my design.
Handling Characteristics
The handling of this sword took a bit of getting used to. The small hilt and leaf shape of the sword made the sword have a LOT of blade presence. For a short sword it hits like a mac truck. Also, with the needle like point its a great thruster... but most thrusting swords have very little blade pressence to allow for better point control.
I'm still not a great cutter with this sword... and its thrusts VERY well but it taks some getting used to using it that way.
However... the feeling power POWER that comes from Shadowfang is impressive... she is best used with shorter motions, as powerful swipes may leave you outside for a moment and exposed.
Test Cutting
I've done a decent amount of cutting with this sword... but am still getting used to it as I've never had another sword quite like this one. I find I prefer cutting heavy targets with Shadowfang, which has no trouble cleaving threw really tough targets. Also thusting with Shadowfang is fun... but cutting little/light targts is not her strong suit.
Conclusions
As I said before... if you have an idea you have always wanted to have made into a sword... and you can afford it... I think you should DO IT. I've had hundreds of swords now pass threw my hands... many very well made and impressive... but NOTHING has ever compared to the feeling of seeing your own minds eye made steel. To hold it in your hand... swing it back and forth... cut with it... amazing feeling.
I would absoultely lov to make other ideas I have rattling around in my head... and may do so someday when I can afford to do so.
Brenno has not been making swords as long as some others in this hobby have... but his learning curve has been astunding. I've owned a couple of his earlier swords... and I compare them to the ones I got later and see the vast improvements. I see the ones he posts on the forums and I'm blow away how he constantly raises the bar.
For all the good things I can say about his swords... when I think of Brenno and Fable Blades... one thing sticks out more then anything eles... professional.
In a culture of artists, filled with storys of delays and missed deadlines and comunication problems...Brenno is an exceptional professional. He stays in contact every step of the way, comunicates and listens and makes suggestions, shares pictures and impressions at each stage of the building... he makes you feel SO involved in the making of your sword. There is a magic in that as well... and it is just as important as seing your idea made real.
Brenno is 'The Man'.
Pros
Astundingly quick turn-around time from start to finish for a full custom sword.
Unmatched customer service and comunication.
Total flexability to make about anything you can think of.
Very durable swords, among the toughest of any I've ever owned.
Cons
Price... well above the sub 300 target of these forums.
The Bottom Line
I have sold a great many swords of late... some valud over 1k, many of which were one of a kind and swords that I LOVED and enjoyed cutting with. Durring that time... Shadowfang and my other 3 Fable Blades were among a handfull of swords I NEVER ONCE considered selling... and I never will.
I think that about sums it up... don't you?
Thanks for reading.
Grovetown, GA
Introduction
This sword was an idea I had for some time... and after having a few Fable Blades made by our own home grown swordmaker Brenno, I knew he was perfect for this perticular sword. I sent him a general idea and sketch of what I had in mind... and in 24 hours I had gotten back a couple sketches and ideas. We did a little back and forth and settled on a design, and I sent him half down and he got started.
Durring the whole making of Shadowfang... Brenno was always in touch with pics and updates on an almost day to day basis. The comunication he has with his clients while making a sword is unheard of in the industy. He bouncd ideas and suggestions off me durring the building of the sword, sent new pics at each stage of the building, and offered ideas and suggestions on how to improve aspects of the design or make changes he thought might work.
True to form, he was done and the sword shipped in a mere 6-7 weeks or so. This was the case with the other swords I've order from Brenno as well. His work ethic and comunication are above and beyond anything I've ever encountered in the area of custom made swords.
The finished product can be seen here: fableblades.com/Wolf.html
Historical overview
This a pure fantasy design... one of my own creation with a lot of input from Brenno... and has no real historical precident.
Full Disclosure
This sword was a design of my own, made real by Brenno of Fable Blades, and paid for in full by me. No compensation was given me in exchange for this review... indeed... I have had this sword for a good long while now, and the review is long overdue. All opinions of the sword and of Fable Blades and Brenno are my own honestly held impressions and thoughts.
Initial Impressions
I had mixed first impressions of this sword.
On the one hand... I had more excitment for this sword then any other before hand. This was an idea and design I had kicking around my head for many years... and as such that sets the bar pretty damn high. :lol: Its one thing when you just buy a sword and hope it lives up to expectations... but its another when a sword has to live up to long held hopes and dreams.
That said... when I took the sword out and looked at it... it took my breath away. It was like nothing else to have had this vision in your mind so long... and now hold it in your hand before you for REAL. Its an amazing feeling... and something everyone who is considering having a full custom sword made should do at least once. I had a couple Fable blades before... but one was designed for my wife, the other was designed to match an existing dagger Brenno had already made. THIS was the first sword that sprang whole from my mind and became real steel... and it was a very intense feeling to hold it in hand the first time.
The rough, hammered finished was part of my design. I wanted the blade to look as if it were rough forged ags ago from some fallen space rock... the wolves carved into the grip are very personal to me... the ring pommel is meant to represent the full moon and the cresent guard the wanning moon. The gemstone changles color from purple, blue-ish, green-ish... the design on the ricasso matches the one on my wife's FoxJian... it was all so overwhelming seeing it in hand at first.
I had only a couple issues when looking upon Shadowfang the first time. The guard was just a TAD too small... it was meant to match the pommel in width, but it came out a tad smaller. I knew this LONG before the sword was in my hands, Brenno informed me and I ok'ed it from pics... so I was cool with it, but still a tad sad about it when I first got it. Also... when holding and swinging it about at first, I didn't bond with it right away. I fell in love with my wife's FoxJian at first touch... the speed and handling amazed me. Shadowfang was thicker a leafblade with a large swell... the feel was dramaticly different and didn't grab me at first touch.
Those two issue aside... I was blown away that this amazing piece of steel was sitting in front of me, when only 2 months before it had been only ideas and sketches. It blew my mind.
Statistics
Blade Length: 25.6 inches
Handle Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 33.4 inches
Guard Width: 2 & 1/8th inches
POB (Point of Balance): 3.9 inches from guard
COP (Center of Percussion): 16 inches from guard
Weight: 2lbs 5oz
Components
The Blade
I love the blade on this sword... its so unique. Its a wide slashing leafblade, but it has a needle like tip for wicked stabbing. The ricasso has this awesome hammered look to it... and the fuller is DEEP and wide and blackedned. The whole look and shape and impression of the blade to me is something that is both earthy and otherworldly... something from a time long ago but also a time that never was. Its everything I wanted it to be.
Its not the sharpest sword... Brenno's blades tend to favor durability over a razor edge... but there is no visable bevels and everything just looks RIGHT to me.
The Handle/Grip
The grip is purpleheart... and features a carved wolf head on each side... one facing the full moon (the pommel) and one fasing the cresent moon. (the guard)
The grip is a good size for me at 5 inches... my big fat meatpaws fit will and comfortable.
The Guard
The guard is a Cresent shape... made with the same hammered rough finish as the ricasso and pommel... and with a gemstone set on both sides. Its near perfect... but as I mentioned just a tad smaller then I wanted. More then enough to keep ons hand from the blade tho. I wanted it sleek and small.
The blade and grip are fit to the gaurd amazingly well.
The Pommel
The pommel is THICK and solid... with the beefy tang running threw it and the makers mark there clear on the tang. The peen is also big and bulky, lending to the rough and durable look of the sword. All of this is EXACTLY as I pictured it in my design.
Handling Characteristics
The handling of this sword took a bit of getting used to. The small hilt and leaf shape of the sword made the sword have a LOT of blade presence. For a short sword it hits like a mac truck. Also, with the needle like point its a great thruster... but most thrusting swords have very little blade pressence to allow for better point control.
I'm still not a great cutter with this sword... and its thrusts VERY well but it taks some getting used to using it that way.
However... the feeling power POWER that comes from Shadowfang is impressive... she is best used with shorter motions, as powerful swipes may leave you outside for a moment and exposed.
Test Cutting
I've done a decent amount of cutting with this sword... but am still getting used to it as I've never had another sword quite like this one. I find I prefer cutting heavy targets with Shadowfang, which has no trouble cleaving threw really tough targets. Also thusting with Shadowfang is fun... but cutting little/light targts is not her strong suit.
Conclusions
As I said before... if you have an idea you have always wanted to have made into a sword... and you can afford it... I think you should DO IT. I've had hundreds of swords now pass threw my hands... many very well made and impressive... but NOTHING has ever compared to the feeling of seeing your own minds eye made steel. To hold it in your hand... swing it back and forth... cut with it... amazing feeling.
I would absoultely lov to make other ideas I have rattling around in my head... and may do so someday when I can afford to do so.
Brenno has not been making swords as long as some others in this hobby have... but his learning curve has been astunding. I've owned a couple of his earlier swords... and I compare them to the ones I got later and see the vast improvements. I see the ones he posts on the forums and I'm blow away how he constantly raises the bar.
For all the good things I can say about his swords... when I think of Brenno and Fable Blades... one thing sticks out more then anything eles... professional.
In a culture of artists, filled with storys of delays and missed deadlines and comunication problems...Brenno is an exceptional professional. He stays in contact every step of the way, comunicates and listens and makes suggestions, shares pictures and impressions at each stage of the building... he makes you feel SO involved in the making of your sword. There is a magic in that as well... and it is just as important as seing your idea made real.
Brenno is 'The Man'.
Pros
Astundingly quick turn-around time from start to finish for a full custom sword.
Unmatched customer service and comunication.
Total flexability to make about anything you can think of.
Very durable swords, among the toughest of any I've ever owned.
Cons
Price... well above the sub 300 target of these forums.
The Bottom Line
I have sold a great many swords of late... some valud over 1k, many of which were one of a kind and swords that I LOVED and enjoyed cutting with. Durring that time... Shadowfang and my other 3 Fable Blades were among a handfull of swords I NEVER ONCE considered selling... and I never will.
I think that about sums it up... don't you?
Thanks for reading.