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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 4:44:04 GMT
I've always been a katana guy, but lately, I've been wanting a saber of some kind. I figured I may as well start with the original. I'm trying to decide between the windlass and CS offerings. I know that it's the same blade either way.Even with the optional Kult of Athena sharpening, the windlass is still $40 cheaper. Anyone have a reason why one is better than the other, besides aesthetics? Maybe you of other choices of better value.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2013 6:08:00 GMT
The CS shamshir is built to a higher quality level, the QC standards that Cold Steel require are much higher than the base Windlass product. You get a much better finish for the small increase in price.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 3, 2013 15:18:30 GMT
I think the CS has slightly heavier fittings and grip. It may also have some more distal taper than the Windlass. Anyway, yes, I would definitely recommend it over the Windlass. And if you want to go all the way back to the original? Turco-Mongol all the way, man
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 15:23:37 GMT
I was on the universal swords site. They have some nice ones, but I can't find anybody that has one.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Apr 3, 2013 15:44:04 GMT
If I remember correctly CS uses the same shamshir blade as Windlass. :shock:
Well it's no surprise that Cold Steel swords are made in China & India. I remember reading that their shamshir was made in India and by same forge that Windlass uses for some of their swords. If you check the stats, they are pretty close to each other. And you can read old threads on it too.
I have a CS Shamshir, it's a good sword and fun to cut with.
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 16:08:06 GMT
We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that windlass makes the CS shamshir blades. I Bet they make the shasqua too. The CS swords usually cost 2or3 times as much as the equivalent windlasses. In this case, the prices are so close that I had to ask.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Apr 3, 2013 16:22:48 GMT
Well if you already knew that, then I can't assist much more. Buy whichever you like more. When I bought my CS it was 199$, so basically it was dead even with Windlass version + KOA sharpening. I preferred the look of CS version. One good reason to choose Cold Steel is dependant on the resale value. Here in Finland Cold Steel products are very expensive, and usually they are pretty easy to sell at reasonable prices as they cost so much as new. CS Shamshir costs 370€ Windlass Shamshir costs 250€ Needless to say which one usually gives better resale value when sold inside Finland.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 3, 2013 18:27:49 GMT
Did someone say Turco-Mongol saber? I think there's one for sale, a little out of SBG range, but I think (THINK) it should be bottle ready. www.peterjohnsson.com/early-sabre/
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Post by Lobster Hunter on Apr 3, 2013 18:48:07 GMT
I guess one of the few key differences is Cold Steel's synthetic grip vs. Windlass's wood grip. I'm not a fan of synthetic hilt parts but I seem to recall someone's Windlass wood grip having a crack. If you're concerned with durability, CS might be the way to go.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Apr 3, 2013 18:57:49 GMT
Your better off with the CS considering the small price difference,Quality will most likely be the same but due to Cold Steels very flamboyant marketing technique the resale value for a CS will be higher if you wish to sell it on later
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 19:34:20 GMT
As far as resale, I wouldn't get more than $20 locally. If I sold it here, CS doesn't have the best reputation. They're considered badly balanced choppers. I've handled the dragonfly katana. I have to say, it didn't feel bad. It is, however, overpriced. Looking at the KOA pics, I noticed that the CS has two rivets. The windlass has one. That synthetic grip is probably tougher. It's also 1" longer. Might be better for my hand.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 3, 2013 19:41:19 GMT
That was me with the cracked Windlass hilt.
CS' hilt isn't synthetic as far as I know, it's horn...
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 19:44:31 GMT
KOA listing says faux horn. Universal swords has some nice looking shamshirs, but I can't find any info on them. There's only one review on one model here. He said it was heavy. That's really relative. Some swords are supposed to be heavier than others. It's also a matter of opinion, to an extent.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 3, 2013 22:41:30 GMT
Hmm. Last I had heard it was horn, but I doubt it makes a whole lot of difference; faux horn might actually be stronger than the real thing. CS is more of a known deal, while Universal is a little more iffy... aside from Windlass, not a whole lot of Indian sword-makers actually bother with little things like distal taper and correct balance. And if you sold it here on the forum? I'd probably buy it if I have the available funds, and I'm not gonna pay just $20 for it, so
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 3, 2013 23:24:13 GMT
I'm working on the forge, but I need good examples to work from. I guess I could always do a re-hilt later.
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Post by Onimusha on Apr 4, 2013 5:50:22 GMT
Cossack, what is the price on that thing?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 9:08:34 GMT
Just to clarify, I do have the CS shamshir, the grip is imitation horn, it's synthetic. It's more durable. I read every review I could find before I purchased it. The consensus is that the Windlass version is not as well finished in both blade and hardware as the CS version. The CS shamshir us a wundlass sword made to CS specifications, they're made in the same place but not the same! Regarding CS reputaion for overwight swords, that's not relevant to these blades, they come from a different manufacturer to the overly heavy katana. The CS shamshir is a very light and fast sword, and very sharp too, see Paul's SBG review and video...
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 4, 2013 10:51:19 GMT
Umm, let's just say it doesn't qualify as strictly within the SBG $300 limit. Probably tack on another zero.
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Luka
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Post by Luka on Apr 4, 2013 11:00:53 GMT
Or even more...
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Post by hussar on Apr 4, 2013 12:15:47 GMT
I surprised no one has asked but is historical accuracy an issue? if so windlass over cs, if not, cs over windlass. simple
apart from that there is not much to split them
also cossack that is a magyar saber the predecessor to the turco-mongol saber in Europe (the turco-mongol was used buy the mongols a bit earlier) the two main differences between them is blade length and curvature (I made the same mistake between them only to get chastised by a friend who use to work in a Russian medieval history museum) it's is a nice sword so, good find
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