Angus Trim XIIIb.1
Jan 15, 2012 7:49:08 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2012 7:49:08 GMT
Angus Trim XIIIb.1
Introduction
Hello! My name is Joshua, although most of you know me best as Yrx. I have been a member of the forums since early 2009, and for most of that period I was a college student and couldn't justify buying something like a sword. The first (and until now only) sword I bought was a heavily modified Windlass from a forum member named Nathan. That was 10 months after I joined, and even then part of the money for it was an early Christmas present from my parents. Shortly after first seeing the venerable ATrim 1326, I decided that I would save up money and buy an Angus Trim sword. The summer of 2010 I switched that goal to an Odinblade of similar stats, until I got fired from my job (among other tragedies; that really was a lousy summer).
Fast forward to the recently passed year; I've finished down at U of I and had acquired a part time job. My mind was fairly set on an Odinblade instead of the 1326, to the point that I emailed John for a quote (which was extremely reasonable, I might add). But Gus and Tom were kind enough to develop and release a sword that made me pause and think twice (at least for now); the XIIIb.1 from Tried and True Armory.
(Please excuse any clutter in my pictures! It was hard to find some clear space living in a house with 6 other people. :oops: )
Historical Overview
Per the description from the vendor website...
There you go! Not having personally examined these swords, I can't exactly verify whether it's extremely similar or not. But there's nothing surprising or outlandish about the design from a historical standpoint (besides the hex nut hilt construction). Of special note is that it's currently the only production/semi-production XIIIb that costs under a thousand dollars (much less under 400).
Full Disclosure
The short answer is that I'm a regular customer who bought the sword at full retail price off the Tried and True website. Because I asked, Tom was able to verify with Gus that there was a XIIIb.1 nearly finished (about 3 weeks from completion), and he would gladly hold onto it for me while I scraped together the money for a deposit.
Customer Experience and Ordering
Since Angus Trim blades are only available through Tried and True, I would like to make a note about wait times and my experience purchasing from them. It seems that for initial commissions, Tom had already been giving extremely conservative estimates (ie. 4-6 months) because a lot of the time Gus would go over the completion date that he had given Tom. Given that this was a nearly complete sword, Tom relayed Gus's estimate of 3 weeks to me without the standard wiggle room. I had paid the deposit 2 weeks after that estimate, and I sent the rest of the money 2 weeks later with my next pay check.
Each week after that, I would message Tom and ask if the sword would be done this week. But apparently, Gus repeatedly found something more important to do on a regular basis than complete my order that had already been paid in full. First I would think, "Well, as long as I get it before Thanksgiving," and then it was "before December," "before Christmas," and finally "before the New Year." I don't have a huge income, and it was extremely frustrating to log on to the forums and see posts with titles like "New ATrim Falchion" and "Angus Trim's new take on Tactical swords" while my order went unfinished. I finally received my sword 10 weeks after the initial 3 week estimate, the week before New Years.
I should note that I do not put any blame on Tom for the delays. He was always very quick and forthright with communications. As Gus still had the sword and chose to work on other things before it, there is very little that Tom could have done (besides bothering Gus, which I am confident he was). If there was any fault on the vendor's part, it was taking the swordmaker's estimate at face value. I don't think I would have minded the wait nearly as much if I had been given a more accurate idea of how long it would be. It's just something to keep in mind for new buyers.
(But I should also note that as of January 15th, I still haven't received the gun case that I ordered with the sword.)
Initial Impressions
I unfortunately didn't take any pictures when it arrived, but the sword came shipped in the standard Tried and True packaging, namely a compact cardboard "sleeve," for lack of a better term. But the term is misleading, as the packaging was extremely secure (it took me quite some time to open it), at least as protective as a full size box. In addition, the blade was in a rough wooden scabbard for protection, and all the metal parts of the sword were covered in a thick grease (reminded me of slide grease for brass instruments).
A general approximation of what it looked like...
When I removed the grease, I immediately noticed that [EDIT: what appeared to be] some of the black oxide from the heat treatment was still on the blade. It actually made me nervous in a couple places, because at first it looked like the edge had chips in it.
It really wasn't a huge deal as it can be polished out, but it was personally frustrating since this kind of polishing was one of the specific things that kept getting delayed. There weren't any red rust spots.
[EDIT: Tom has confirmed the marks were almost certainly from scabbard glue that wasn't completely dry yet.]
The sharpness was decent but not anything spectacular. It came with a very small secondary bevel, and (unless I'm doing it wrong) doesn't cut paper readily.
My dad is a tool and die maker, and his comments were all very positive concerning the design, color of steel, general finish, etc. (He doesn't like the sharp points on the corners of the guard, but they don't bother me.)
Stats
Once again per the Tried and True website, here are the stats...
Weight - 2 pound 3 ounces
Overall length - 37.5 inches
Blade Length - 31 1/8 inches
Grip Length - 4 1/8 inches
Point of Balance - 6 inches
I haven't measured any of this myself to compare, but nothing seems unusually different.
Components
Let me just say right off the bat, this is a pretty sword. It doesn't have anything particularly fancy going on, but something about it just gives off this subtle attraction. The darkened fuller looks very nice. The blade has a fairly well defined hexagonal cross section. It's strange because it seems smaller than it actually is. I think the narrow width of the blade has to do with this. In some ways it almost reminds me of a jian. Here's a picture for a sense of scale. I'd say my hands are a pretty average size, and probably a little small for the fact that I'm 6'3".
This all ties in with an inherent strangeness to the sword. I'll expand on what I mean in the handling section of this review.
The hilt parts are simple but well done. I just got the standard parts for this model. Nothing too exciting. The guard does have a nice little ridge in the middle, but on one side it is ever so slightly off center. (EDIT: I just realized that the guard pictured on the Tried and True website is NOT the standard guard; I believe that was a one-off.) The grip is standard ATrim leather over cord, and the hex nut construction is solid.
The scabbard that Tom sent with this one is fairly rough and basic. It looks like there might be some green and black marker on it, and the finish is uneven. The bottom is extremely sketchy and done with a lot of epoxy, and because of this the sword doesn't completely go in. All that being said, this was an extra that I didn't count on when I first ordered. I'm still keeping my Windlass in the cardboard scabbard that it was shipped in, so having this kind of protection is welcome. It also seems I got one of the rougher examples, and I could guess that it might be because I kept bugging Tom to get it to me quickly.
With the exception of the scabbard, a very attractive and well put together sword.
Handling Characteristics
As I mentioned earlier, there is something just WEIRD about this sword. From my last trip to Kult of Athena, I was able to inspect and handle a number of swords that were obviously lousy and a number that were obviously good. You pick it up and almost instantly you can tell that it's very nice or not so much. This one isn't either. You pick it up, and it doesn't feel bad or good, just that there's something about it you can't quite figure out. It's decently sized for a single hander, but it seems small. When you hold it, it seems heavier than it looks, until you swing it and it suddenly seems lighter. It's not obviously amazing at recovery like a lot of well balanced swords, but it somehow feels completely different from a clunky entry level sword.
What I think I've decided is this: A lot of high end swords have an air about them that gives you a level of confidence in handling them. In other words, they help you out. This sword is independent and demands you bring your own confidence, and only then is when it will shine like it was meant to. You have to be purposeful when you move it. It's a really strange sword, and it seems to have a personality of its own. I'm still getting a handle on it, but I think I like it quite a bit already.
Test Cutting
I've been able to cut on only a few occasions so far, and I haven't taken any video yet (partially so that I could improve a bit). Today I went outside in the snow and cut about 15 water bottles. I'm basically a beginner level at any kind of cutting. With that in mind, I batted 2 or 3 bottles, made a couple nearly "silent" cuts, and cut the rest on the first try with varying levels of spray and flying plastic. What I've observed about the handling plays out to its full crescendo when you put a target in front of it. You have to be 100% on what you're telling it to do, and for that to work you need to be familiar with how it moves. When I get someone to hold the camera I'll upload some video. (Also when it's less cold. The water was freezing on the blade.)
One thing I noticed is how easily it cuts extremely light targets. My Windlass is honestly a fairly good sword, and no doubt a much better performer than a stock model would be. But it can't cut light things like thin plant stalks coming out of the ground. The XIIIb.1 sails through them without a problem, even with the thicker profile. The combo seems to be the light blade coupled with the forward POB. I wouldn't be hard pressed to imagine this sword slicing insects out of the air. But due to the thickness of the profile, it stands up well to substantial targets too. In all the cutting I did I never felt like the blade was going to take a set.
Also, it rings merrily when it hits anything; this goes double for those extremely light targets. Not sure why.
Conclusions
This sword is really strange, and I really like it, and I don't think I could answer you if you wanted specifics on either of those facts. I think a lot of us assume that there are basically two levels of sword knowledge; either we don't know how a sword is supposed to act because we've never encountered a good one; or we've handled plenty of good swords and know exactly what they are. This one will confuse anyone who thinks they're firmly in the second category.
Even after my entire ordeal with Tried and True Armory, I have to say I would definitely consider buying from them again. Now that I have a better idea of what to expect, I think the waiting would be much easier.
Pros
-absolutely beautiful blade
-unique and underrepresented style
-exceptional cutting power
-value compared to Albion/A&A
Cons
-rough finish, especially polish and fittings
-wait time and delays
-doesn't hold your hand like some high end swords
The Bottom Line
Why the heck does it have to be the bottom line? Why not The Final Judgement, or maybe The Point of No Return? Oh well...
The bottom line is that I would definitely recommend the XIIIb.1. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, though, because it's a fairly unique and unusual model that not everyone might go for. If you're looking for a sword that makes you feel like a king, probably not this one (this one makes me feel like I don't know what the heck I am). But this is a great, light sword that has a lot more going for it under the surface level. And if you want something different, I would still suggest taking a look at the rest of Angus Trim's line up.
As for me, I think I may have to get some viking fittings made for this thing.
Introduction
Hello! My name is Joshua, although most of you know me best as Yrx. I have been a member of the forums since early 2009, and for most of that period I was a college student and couldn't justify buying something like a sword. The first (and until now only) sword I bought was a heavily modified Windlass from a forum member named Nathan. That was 10 months after I joined, and even then part of the money for it was an early Christmas present from my parents. Shortly after first seeing the venerable ATrim 1326, I decided that I would save up money and buy an Angus Trim sword. The summer of 2010 I switched that goal to an Odinblade of similar stats, until I got fired from my job (among other tragedies; that really was a lousy summer).
Fast forward to the recently passed year; I've finished down at U of I and had acquired a part time job. My mind was fairly set on an Odinblade instead of the 1326, to the point that I emailed John for a quote (which was extremely reasonable, I might add). But Gus and Tom were kind enough to develop and release a sword that made me pause and think twice (at least for now); the XIIIb.1 from Tried and True Armory.
(Please excuse any clutter in my pictures! It was hard to find some clear space living in a house with 6 other people. :oops: )
Historical Overview
Per the description from the vendor website...
This sword was inspired by the first couple XIIIb swords in Records of the Medieval Sword by Ewart Oakeshott which are both narrow bodied with a hexagonal cross section like this one.
There you go! Not having personally examined these swords, I can't exactly verify whether it's extremely similar or not. But there's nothing surprising or outlandish about the design from a historical standpoint (besides the hex nut hilt construction). Of special note is that it's currently the only production/semi-production XIIIb that costs under a thousand dollars (much less under 400).
Full Disclosure
The short answer is that I'm a regular customer who bought the sword at full retail price off the Tried and True website. Because I asked, Tom was able to verify with Gus that there was a XIIIb.1 nearly finished (about 3 weeks from completion), and he would gladly hold onto it for me while I scraped together the money for a deposit.
Customer Experience and Ordering
Since Angus Trim blades are only available through Tried and True, I would like to make a note about wait times and my experience purchasing from them. It seems that for initial commissions, Tom had already been giving extremely conservative estimates (ie. 4-6 months) because a lot of the time Gus would go over the completion date that he had given Tom. Given that this was a nearly complete sword, Tom relayed Gus's estimate of 3 weeks to me without the standard wiggle room. I had paid the deposit 2 weeks after that estimate, and I sent the rest of the money 2 weeks later with my next pay check.
Each week after that, I would message Tom and ask if the sword would be done this week. But apparently, Gus repeatedly found something more important to do on a regular basis than complete my order that had already been paid in full. First I would think, "Well, as long as I get it before Thanksgiving," and then it was "before December," "before Christmas," and finally "before the New Year." I don't have a huge income, and it was extremely frustrating to log on to the forums and see posts with titles like "New ATrim Falchion" and "Angus Trim's new take on Tactical swords" while my order went unfinished. I finally received my sword 10 weeks after the initial 3 week estimate, the week before New Years.
I should note that I do not put any blame on Tom for the delays. He was always very quick and forthright with communications. As Gus still had the sword and chose to work on other things before it, there is very little that Tom could have done (besides bothering Gus, which I am confident he was). If there was any fault on the vendor's part, it was taking the swordmaker's estimate at face value. I don't think I would have minded the wait nearly as much if I had been given a more accurate idea of how long it would be. It's just something to keep in mind for new buyers.
(But I should also note that as of January 15th, I still haven't received the gun case that I ordered with the sword.)
Initial Impressions
I unfortunately didn't take any pictures when it arrived, but the sword came shipped in the standard Tried and True packaging, namely a compact cardboard "sleeve," for lack of a better term. But the term is misleading, as the packaging was extremely secure (it took me quite some time to open it), at least as protective as a full size box. In addition, the blade was in a rough wooden scabbard for protection, and all the metal parts of the sword were covered in a thick grease (reminded me of slide grease for brass instruments).
A general approximation of what it looked like...
When I removed the grease, I immediately noticed that [EDIT: what appeared to be] some of the black oxide from the heat treatment was still on the blade. It actually made me nervous in a couple places, because at first it looked like the edge had chips in it.
It really wasn't a huge deal as it can be polished out, but it was personally frustrating since this kind of polishing was one of the specific things that kept getting delayed. There weren't any red rust spots.
[EDIT: Tom has confirmed the marks were almost certainly from scabbard glue that wasn't completely dry yet.]
The sharpness was decent but not anything spectacular. It came with a very small secondary bevel, and (unless I'm doing it wrong) doesn't cut paper readily.
My dad is a tool and die maker, and his comments were all very positive concerning the design, color of steel, general finish, etc. (He doesn't like the sharp points on the corners of the guard, but they don't bother me.)
Stats
Once again per the Tried and True website, here are the stats...
Weight - 2 pound 3 ounces
Overall length - 37.5 inches
Blade Length - 31 1/8 inches
Grip Length - 4 1/8 inches
Point of Balance - 6 inches
I haven't measured any of this myself to compare, but nothing seems unusually different.
Components
Let me just say right off the bat, this is a pretty sword. It doesn't have anything particularly fancy going on, but something about it just gives off this subtle attraction. The darkened fuller looks very nice. The blade has a fairly well defined hexagonal cross section. It's strange because it seems smaller than it actually is. I think the narrow width of the blade has to do with this. In some ways it almost reminds me of a jian. Here's a picture for a sense of scale. I'd say my hands are a pretty average size, and probably a little small for the fact that I'm 6'3".
This all ties in with an inherent strangeness to the sword. I'll expand on what I mean in the handling section of this review.
The hilt parts are simple but well done. I just got the standard parts for this model. Nothing too exciting. The guard does have a nice little ridge in the middle, but on one side it is ever so slightly off center. (EDIT: I just realized that the guard pictured on the Tried and True website is NOT the standard guard; I believe that was a one-off.) The grip is standard ATrim leather over cord, and the hex nut construction is solid.
The scabbard that Tom sent with this one is fairly rough and basic. It looks like there might be some green and black marker on it, and the finish is uneven. The bottom is extremely sketchy and done with a lot of epoxy, and because of this the sword doesn't completely go in. All that being said, this was an extra that I didn't count on when I first ordered. I'm still keeping my Windlass in the cardboard scabbard that it was shipped in, so having this kind of protection is welcome. It also seems I got one of the rougher examples, and I could guess that it might be because I kept bugging Tom to get it to me quickly.
With the exception of the scabbard, a very attractive and well put together sword.
Handling Characteristics
As I mentioned earlier, there is something just WEIRD about this sword. From my last trip to Kult of Athena, I was able to inspect and handle a number of swords that were obviously lousy and a number that were obviously good. You pick it up and almost instantly you can tell that it's very nice or not so much. This one isn't either. You pick it up, and it doesn't feel bad or good, just that there's something about it you can't quite figure out. It's decently sized for a single hander, but it seems small. When you hold it, it seems heavier than it looks, until you swing it and it suddenly seems lighter. It's not obviously amazing at recovery like a lot of well balanced swords, but it somehow feels completely different from a clunky entry level sword.
What I think I've decided is this: A lot of high end swords have an air about them that gives you a level of confidence in handling them. In other words, they help you out. This sword is independent and demands you bring your own confidence, and only then is when it will shine like it was meant to. You have to be purposeful when you move it. It's a really strange sword, and it seems to have a personality of its own. I'm still getting a handle on it, but I think I like it quite a bit already.
Test Cutting
I've been able to cut on only a few occasions so far, and I haven't taken any video yet (partially so that I could improve a bit). Today I went outside in the snow and cut about 15 water bottles. I'm basically a beginner level at any kind of cutting. With that in mind, I batted 2 or 3 bottles, made a couple nearly "silent" cuts, and cut the rest on the first try with varying levels of spray and flying plastic. What I've observed about the handling plays out to its full crescendo when you put a target in front of it. You have to be 100% on what you're telling it to do, and for that to work you need to be familiar with how it moves. When I get someone to hold the camera I'll upload some video. (Also when it's less cold. The water was freezing on the blade.)
One thing I noticed is how easily it cuts extremely light targets. My Windlass is honestly a fairly good sword, and no doubt a much better performer than a stock model would be. But it can't cut light things like thin plant stalks coming out of the ground. The XIIIb.1 sails through them without a problem, even with the thicker profile. The combo seems to be the light blade coupled with the forward POB. I wouldn't be hard pressed to imagine this sword slicing insects out of the air. But due to the thickness of the profile, it stands up well to substantial targets too. In all the cutting I did I never felt like the blade was going to take a set.
Also, it rings merrily when it hits anything; this goes double for those extremely light targets. Not sure why.
Conclusions
This sword is really strange, and I really like it, and I don't think I could answer you if you wanted specifics on either of those facts. I think a lot of us assume that there are basically two levels of sword knowledge; either we don't know how a sword is supposed to act because we've never encountered a good one; or we've handled plenty of good swords and know exactly what they are. This one will confuse anyone who thinks they're firmly in the second category.
Even after my entire ordeal with Tried and True Armory, I have to say I would definitely consider buying from them again. Now that I have a better idea of what to expect, I think the waiting would be much easier.
Pros
-absolutely beautiful blade
-unique and underrepresented style
-exceptional cutting power
-value compared to Albion/A&A
Cons
-rough finish, especially polish and fittings
-wait time and delays
-doesn't hold your hand like some high end swords
The Bottom Line
Why the heck does it have to be the bottom line? Why not The Final Judgement, or maybe The Point of No Return? Oh well...
The bottom line is that I would definitely recommend the XIIIb.1. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, though, because it's a fairly unique and unusual model that not everyone might go for. If you're looking for a sword that makes you feel like a king, probably not this one (this one makes me feel like I don't know what the heck I am). But this is a great, light sword that has a lot more going for it under the surface level. And if you want something different, I would still suggest taking a look at the rest of Angus Trim's line up.
As for me, I think I may have to get some viking fittings made for this thing.