Darkwood Armory Two Post Rapier
Feb 15, 2008 12:46:42 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 12:46:42 GMT
This weapon is over the 300 category but I thought it would be good to put it out here in case someone is thinking of ordering a custom piece from them. I don't know if my experience is typical but you will know at least what it could be. I had always wanted a custom rapier from Darkwood ever since i saw the beautiful swords that they had made on the site. I first ordered a parrying dagger years ago since i could afford that to see what the workmanship was about. I wanted a specific blade length that was shorter than the long standard. Well when I received it I was a little disappointed for these reasons. first the blade seemed a bit crudely done. It was ordered sharp and was seriously wasped and the ridge offset. I also ordered an oval side ring and it looks like it was put in a vise and ovaled unevenly. The welds though did look good, solid and totally filled. So I wrote it off as my fault for ordering a custom blade size etc. The price was something like 150. and being inexperience at custom work I just lumped it and figured I will work it all out myself.
A few years later i finally saved up the money for a two post rapier. I discussed what I wanted with them. Two post, sharp blade, very fine "museum finish" and was quoted 500.. Which i thought wasn't too bad. When I received it here is what i thought. The balance was perfect. you can tell he knows his stuff about the weight distribution because it handled quick to the hand. The welds where all very solid, filled and smoothed out. The finish to the sword was not fine or extra fine, I would say munitions grade. The blade showed a lot of grain and not really finished polished well. The wire wrap showed unevenness, gaps and epoxy. Now I intended to rework the finish on the sword myself to age it. Doing that believe it or not you need a very high grade finish to start with or it will just look like homemade sh**.
the guard, pommel and grip i intended to go over again anyway to get invariably missed spots but the blade that is another story. I don't do blade polishes because i know i don't know what i am doing and will goof it. So I was able to make a deal with a guy to do it for me for 60. and some wood working. So, anyway here I am at the end. In conclusion; I think they do really great steel work on the guard etc., but i would just get it in your head that you are still going to have to do some finishing yourself. If I were to order again i wouldn't pay extra for high grade unless it is just on the blade. Even then I would spell out exactly what i expected out of the blade and see if that is the same thing they are thinking. If it wasn't right i would send the blade back as many times as it took. I didn't do it because I was afraid they would take offense and not want to do work for me in the future.
I think that they are without a doubt the best i have seen in custom work (of my limited exposure) but don't pay extra, finish it yourself or spell it out before hand.
Here is the Rapier after the aging process. My camera doesn't show it very well I'm afraid but i gave it a shot. The dagger will need a total rework and that is a project for down the road.
A few years later i finally saved up the money for a two post rapier. I discussed what I wanted with them. Two post, sharp blade, very fine "museum finish" and was quoted 500.. Which i thought wasn't too bad. When I received it here is what i thought. The balance was perfect. you can tell he knows his stuff about the weight distribution because it handled quick to the hand. The welds where all very solid, filled and smoothed out. The finish to the sword was not fine or extra fine, I would say munitions grade. The blade showed a lot of grain and not really finished polished well. The wire wrap showed unevenness, gaps and epoxy. Now I intended to rework the finish on the sword myself to age it. Doing that believe it or not you need a very high grade finish to start with or it will just look like homemade sh**.
the guard, pommel and grip i intended to go over again anyway to get invariably missed spots but the blade that is another story. I don't do blade polishes because i know i don't know what i am doing and will goof it. So I was able to make a deal with a guy to do it for me for 60. and some wood working. So, anyway here I am at the end. In conclusion; I think they do really great steel work on the guard etc., but i would just get it in your head that you are still going to have to do some finishing yourself. If I were to order again i wouldn't pay extra for high grade unless it is just on the blade. Even then I would spell out exactly what i expected out of the blade and see if that is the same thing they are thinking. If it wasn't right i would send the blade back as many times as it took. I didn't do it because I was afraid they would take offense and not want to do work for me in the future.
I think that they are without a doubt the best i have seen in custom work (of my limited exposure) but don't pay extra, finish it yourself or spell it out before hand.
Here is the Rapier after the aging process. My camera doesn't show it very well I'm afraid but i gave it a shot. The dagger will need a total rework and that is a project for down the road.