Review - Del Tin Late 13th Century
Dec 26, 2012 19:44:00 GMT
Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 26, 2012 19:44:00 GMT
Overview
The DT2135 is a large XII medieval cruciform style sword with a slightly down turned cross guard. I can't say whether or not it is based on any particular historical piece, but it may have been inspired by something a long these lines. If historical looks are important to you, then like most/all Del Tins, the DT2135 fits the bill.
Purchasing / Shipping
I bought this from Kult of Athena for around $430 without shipping. The package arrived within a few days as promised, was well packaged in a large cardboard box, sword well protected by being wrapped in heavy wrapping paper that completely filled the box, holding the sword nicely in place within the box. I ordered it without the sharpening option. I was extremely pleased with KoA.
Specifications
Overall Length: 39 3/4"
Blade Length: 32"
Blade Width at guard: 2 1/16"
Blade Material: Chromium-Vandium Steel (50 RC Hardness) - According to KoH
Overall Grip Length: 5 1/8"
Cross guard Length: 8 5/8"
Pommel Diameter: 2"(at its widest)
Pommel Width: 1 1/2" (at its widest)
Weight: 3lbs, 3oz
PoB: 4.5"
Blade
The blade came with the Del Tin satin like finish and I would describe it as a Type XII. It has has a nice smooth profile taper that starts just over 2 inches wide and narrows to 1 1/4" about 4 inches from the tip. The fuller is very straight and well shaped, no flaws can I detect. The fuller has what I have heard described as a slightly "washed out" look to it, not fresh of the CNC machine sharpness, which I actually think looks really nice. The blade has what I can see as a descent amount of distal taper, but I have no way of measuring it other than by the eye. The one negative I can detect is an ever so slight symmetry issue with the tip. One side does not mirror the other, one is a bit rounder than the other side, but it is so slight its really hard to notice. Blade has a nice ring to it as well.
The Grip
It's longer that most available single handers out there at just over 5 inches, most other production single handers seem to run between 3.5 and 4.5 inches. It borders on hand and a half but I still think its firmly a single handed sword. The grip is interesting and pretty unique compared to what is currently out there in the production market. The grip is wood and has been carved into a cross hatch pattern which is comfortable in the hand. It appears to have been stained/coated with something that I assume darkened the natural color of the wood. At the cross and pommel are brass? belts that circle the grip and provide a nice transition from the grip to the cross guard and pommel. The decorative lines that have been etched into these brass parts are not super clean, not laser straight by any stretch. They appear to have been etched in by hand. I don't really see this as a problem as it gives the sword a warm hand made look to it. The same can be said for the cross hatch cuts that have been carved into the wood. Not perfect, but pleasing.
The Pommel
The pommel is a 2 inch octagon (Type I I would say) that is a light gray color that matches the cross. In the center of the pommel is a nicely done crusader style cross. The tang is peened, and runs through a circular peen block type construct. I can't say how it is attached to the pommel, if its part of the pommel, welded on, or what, I can't tell. However its done it looks good. Bottom line is its peened and peened well. The pommel has no movement what so ever, its rock solid. One negative to the pommel is the alignment with the cross. It is not perfect, but within what I would consider acceptable. It's something you really have to look for to see, we are talking millimeters...very very slight. I consider my eye very good at detecting symmetry issues, so I would imagine this would largely go unnoticed.
The Guard
As mentioned the guard has a very slight curve towards the blade instead of being a purely straight guard. Looks to me to be a Style 7 according to Oakeshott. It is very tight fitting and very clean and has the same color and finish as the pommel.
Performance
The sword is pretty well balance in my opinion. It has a fairly serious blade in terms of heft and I feel the slightly longer grip has provided a really solid counter weight to the blade. Point of balance being 4.5 inches from the guard makes the sword pretty smooth in the hand..it does not float by any means but does not feel unbalanced either. If sharpened i think it would cut well, but I am not a cutter so am really just guessing on that. Overall I am pleased with the handling.
Overall
I think the Del Tin late 13th century medieval sword is a winner. It's extremely handsome, somewhat unique due to the above average grip length and carved wooden handle and handles nicely. Note - I have had the sword now for close to 10 months, and have just now gotten around to reviewing it, I mention this because I have heard of issues with Del Tin hilt components coming loose, so far no issues with this one.
I think it was worth every penny I paid and am extremely pleased.
Thanks for reading the review and I hope it was helpful....and hopefully it didn't suck!
The DT2135 is a large XII medieval cruciform style sword with a slightly down turned cross guard. I can't say whether or not it is based on any particular historical piece, but it may have been inspired by something a long these lines. If historical looks are important to you, then like most/all Del Tins, the DT2135 fits the bill.
Purchasing / Shipping
I bought this from Kult of Athena for around $430 without shipping. The package arrived within a few days as promised, was well packaged in a large cardboard box, sword well protected by being wrapped in heavy wrapping paper that completely filled the box, holding the sword nicely in place within the box. I ordered it without the sharpening option. I was extremely pleased with KoA.
Specifications
Overall Length: 39 3/4"
Blade Length: 32"
Blade Width at guard: 2 1/16"
Blade Material: Chromium-Vandium Steel (50 RC Hardness) - According to KoH
Overall Grip Length: 5 1/8"
Cross guard Length: 8 5/8"
Pommel Diameter: 2"(at its widest)
Pommel Width: 1 1/2" (at its widest)
Weight: 3lbs, 3oz
PoB: 4.5"
Blade
The blade came with the Del Tin satin like finish and I would describe it as a Type XII. It has has a nice smooth profile taper that starts just over 2 inches wide and narrows to 1 1/4" about 4 inches from the tip. The fuller is very straight and well shaped, no flaws can I detect. The fuller has what I have heard described as a slightly "washed out" look to it, not fresh of the CNC machine sharpness, which I actually think looks really nice. The blade has what I can see as a descent amount of distal taper, but I have no way of measuring it other than by the eye. The one negative I can detect is an ever so slight symmetry issue with the tip. One side does not mirror the other, one is a bit rounder than the other side, but it is so slight its really hard to notice. Blade has a nice ring to it as well.
The Grip
It's longer that most available single handers out there at just over 5 inches, most other production single handers seem to run between 3.5 and 4.5 inches. It borders on hand and a half but I still think its firmly a single handed sword. The grip is interesting and pretty unique compared to what is currently out there in the production market. The grip is wood and has been carved into a cross hatch pattern which is comfortable in the hand. It appears to have been stained/coated with something that I assume darkened the natural color of the wood. At the cross and pommel are brass? belts that circle the grip and provide a nice transition from the grip to the cross guard and pommel. The decorative lines that have been etched into these brass parts are not super clean, not laser straight by any stretch. They appear to have been etched in by hand. I don't really see this as a problem as it gives the sword a warm hand made look to it. The same can be said for the cross hatch cuts that have been carved into the wood. Not perfect, but pleasing.
The Pommel
The pommel is a 2 inch octagon (Type I I would say) that is a light gray color that matches the cross. In the center of the pommel is a nicely done crusader style cross. The tang is peened, and runs through a circular peen block type construct. I can't say how it is attached to the pommel, if its part of the pommel, welded on, or what, I can't tell. However its done it looks good. Bottom line is its peened and peened well. The pommel has no movement what so ever, its rock solid. One negative to the pommel is the alignment with the cross. It is not perfect, but within what I would consider acceptable. It's something you really have to look for to see, we are talking millimeters...very very slight. I consider my eye very good at detecting symmetry issues, so I would imagine this would largely go unnoticed.
The Guard
As mentioned the guard has a very slight curve towards the blade instead of being a purely straight guard. Looks to me to be a Style 7 according to Oakeshott. It is very tight fitting and very clean and has the same color and finish as the pommel.
Performance
The sword is pretty well balance in my opinion. It has a fairly serious blade in terms of heft and I feel the slightly longer grip has provided a really solid counter weight to the blade. Point of balance being 4.5 inches from the guard makes the sword pretty smooth in the hand..it does not float by any means but does not feel unbalanced either. If sharpened i think it would cut well, but I am not a cutter so am really just guessing on that. Overall I am pleased with the handling.
Overall
I think the Del Tin late 13th century medieval sword is a winner. It's extremely handsome, somewhat unique due to the above average grip length and carved wooden handle and handles nicely. Note - I have had the sword now for close to 10 months, and have just now gotten around to reviewing it, I mention this because I have heard of issues with Del Tin hilt components coming loose, so far no issues with this one.
I think it was worth every penny I paid and am extremely pleased.
Thanks for reading the review and I hope it was helpful....and hopefully it didn't suck!