admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2,090
|
Post by admin on Oct 27, 2007 7:49:56 GMT
Well, it is official - I now no longer have a single sword in the medieval swords section of SBG made by Windlass Steelcrafts that is currently in production, everything we ever reviewed there has been discontinued and no longer available... But worse still, I have a feeling that all the reviews in the SBG Sword Forum are also of, drumroll, discontinued too... (correct me if I am wrong). It really is a pain trying to identify which are the good 'uns (as some of them are not just good, but fantastic! I still have my European Sword, while most of my early SBG sword reviews have been given away or sold, but not that one... ![;)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) ) But so many others are whippy when you don't expect them to be, or have hilt issues, etc, etc. It is just so hard to tell now that every purchase feels like a gamble... And by the time the word gets out its a good one, they pull it faster than you can say 'what the...?' I am working on finding a way to rectify this, by getting some impartial heads up info on which ones are the best ones without having to take the gamble myself... More on this later (still a project in the making) But yeah, just a general rant... I wish they would keep the good ones... ![>:(](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/angry.png) Rant over and out. ![:D](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) - Paul
|
|
|
Post by ShooterMike on Oct 27, 2007 18:11:35 GMT
Crappy luck throughout, on the Windlass deal. What about the German Falchion? Have they dropped that one too? That was my first sword review and it is still holding up decently, though it doesn't get used a lot anymore. Maybe they are trying to continuously have the "next big thing" to drive new sales? Crappy deal for us. I wish they would just make 20 good swords that are historically accurate, well made, and handle reasonably well. What a concept, huh?
|
|
|
Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 27, 2007 18:22:41 GMT
From a collectors standpoint though, a retired sword is of more value. Whether it be of personal, or monetary.
|
|
|
Post by YlliwCir on Oct 27, 2007 18:46:41 GMT
Hmmm, it's this kind of thing that puts me off their longer swords. I got a couple windlass daggers I like well enough.
|
|
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2,090
|
Post by admin on Oct 28, 2007 1:51:50 GMT
Crappy luck throughout, on the Windlass deal. What about the German Falchion? Have they dropped that one too? That was my first sword review and it is still holding up decently, though it doesn't get used a lot anymore. Yeah, the reviews of the Falchion, sabers and the ancient Greek and Roman swords still hold and these products are still in production. It is just all the straight bladed medieval arming and longswords that get shuffled all the time... Matrix: you might be right that a retired sword does have more value on a personal level. But the thing that bugs me is that as soon as someone has identified a great Windlass sword, it seems to be discontinued - and to get that good one, you need to always be taking a leap of faith... ![:P](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) Ric: I don't blame you, I have yet to hear of one of their longer swords that wouldn't end up with a Devo sound track accompanying it... ![;)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) You might think I am being harsh, but the truth is - I am only saying this because I still hold up hope that they will listen to the market, reinforce the flip floppy blades and address assembly issues. They come so darn close - the designs are elegant, the steel is fantastic, and the heat treatment - well, we all know how good it is. But as they come in towards the home stretch, they just seem to veer off and crash into a wall... ![::)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png)
|
|
|
Post by Brian of DBK on Oct 28, 2007 2:47:45 GMT
As always, well said. Though I would like to add something else. Most of us, I believe, are collectors. But we're the type that would drive that prize car, rather than let it sit in the garage. What I've discovered in this industry in my short time in it, is that much like the bus, if you miss it another is sure to come along. At this price range, there is a lot of competition, and competition means there is someone on top, and more who want it. Take Darksword for example, who seem to have the latest buzz of late.
In short, I like the idea that sword models don't last forever. Maybe because I like books with mythical swords, that are forged from the hammer of the gods...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2007 12:27:56 GMT
From a collectors standpoint though, a retired sword is of more value. Whether it be of personal, or monetary. This is probably true although I don't know that Windlass swords really appreciate. They're still production models after all. The real issue is that a sword becoming a collectors item doesn't actually make money for Windlass unless they're still producing it. Windlass doesn't make a dime if we sell one of our MRL replicas at a profit. So when they get a good one, they'd be better off marketing te thing for all its worth.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2007 21:53:50 GMT
i'd say the windlass 'war sword' (my only experience with windlass swords) is worth checking out. its a nice looking hand-and-a-half with a 36" blade that really isn't too much on the 'whippy' side.
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=1177837380
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2007 23:57:01 GMT
does anyone here have a way of contacting someone from windlass? id love to know why they seem to pull there swords after such a short time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2007 5:31:05 GMT
Yeah, unfortunaly I just put up a bad review on the Windlass Albrecht II in the review section. They seem to be making their blades a little stiffer but the dam pommols are coming loose. The tang/pin is just too small and the peening job was pretty light too.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2007 10:47:28 GMT
I have 2 windless swords, a gladius (which WAS really great until the handle cracked) and I just recently bought a windless viking sword and damn I am disapointed with it,
the blade is too floppy and I got blisters on my hand just holding it! (the heavy crossgaurd and pommel cut into my hand when I try and weild it) WTF? the weight of the blade is also quite unbalanced
I don't think i'm going to buy any more windless swords from now on. from your reviews, Generation 2 seem a far more trusty brand
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Nov 2, 2007 16:38:50 GMT
Dropping the good swords they make isnt really very good business sense.
|
|
|
Post by YlliwCir on Nov 2, 2007 17:57:34 GMT
Yo Phoenix, just out of curiosity which viking sword did you get, not that I see myself buying a windlass long sword anytime soon.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2007 3:14:57 GMT
It's an early viking sword 10th Century I think.. (it LOOKS like a really nice hilt but the crossgaurd cuts into the base of my thumb (from the weight of the blade) and the pommel also cuts into the bottom of my wrist when I swing it. www.ancientedge.com/category_2.html (goto viking swords) it's 2nd one. the with the light brown handle. I guess if I wore heavy gloves it may take the problem away....
|
|
|
Post by randomnobody on Nov 3, 2007 3:24:58 GMT
Nevermind. Is that one new? Don't believe I've seen it...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2007 4:06:09 GMT
I think it is a new one Anyone that lives in Australia NSW i'll sell it for half price $150 or I could put it on Ebay can still have a little fun with it chopping waterbottles
The Windless Gladius on the other hand is quite a good sword, with a sturdy blade. only problem is the wooden handle is far too slender to take any kind of punishment
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2007 8:50:52 GMT
I understand your frustration Paul! I've liked a couple of windlass swords and have considered getting them, only to find out that they've been discontinued. One of these swords is the European sword...
Here's a theory to consider:
Maybe they have finite resources and can't introduce new designs while maintaining the same volume of production for older ones. Maybe a motivating factor is the introduction of newer designs so collectors who have already purchased some of their older swords would spend the money to buy the newer ones. Perhaps a combination of limited resources and the motivation of revenue generation could explain the trend of discontinuing some designs and introducing new ones.
Matt said "Dropping the good swords they make isnt really very good business sense. "
If you've already bought whatever Windlass swords you're interested in, you're not gonna buy them again, but you might consider buying a new design. The number of sword collectors is small - remember this is a very small niche market. What they're doing might actually be good business.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2007 19:20:00 GMT
Is ancientedge.com functional??? .. because I tried to buy the windlass landsknecht sword .. and the site doesn't allow me buy the sword .
so .. what do you think??
|
|
|
Post by Brendan Olszowy on Nov 9, 2007 5:26:16 GMT
I guess Windlass redo their whole range on regular basis (eg. yearly), and all the good ones are the first to sell out. Then their crappy ones are still in stock from 2 years ago so it looks like they're keeping them on, when really they just can't sell them, so they end up with heaps of crappy ones and no good ones.
|
|