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Post by SPQR on May 6, 2013 21:24:31 GMT
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Post by SPQR on May 7, 2013 18:26:50 GMT
OK, so upon reading the reviews at the IMA site, the reviewers state that the blades are tempered, will take an edge and make an acceptable cutter. So, I've talked myself into it (big surprise, eh?) and pulled the trigger on one of these. The reviewer states the cup (and possibly the guard?) are cast aluminum rather than iron, an interesting choice, and I'm eager to see how balance is affected. There seems to be more than a passing resemblance to the Windlass "Pirate's Companion" sword and these were probably special ordered from Windlass. The Pirate's Companion is simply an AN IX/ SDB 1833 with the brass cup from the 1860 USN Cutlass riveted on.
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Post by downunder on May 7, 2013 20:30:42 GMT
I look forward to hearing how you like this cutlass when you receive it. I recently became interested in cutlasses and have just received the Windlass 1860 US Naval cutlass and the Cold Steel 1917 Cutlass. I tend to like the lighter blades with a more neutral balance and my favourite so far is the 1860. The Cold Steel is beautifully made and better quality than the 1860 but it is heavy and more forward balanced. I looked long and hard at your cutlass. I guess the lack of sheath (the 1860 came with a reasonable sheath and was less than $30 more in cost) and the fact that I could make use of Kult of Athena's sharpening service were instrumental in my final choice of the 1860. IMA's international delivery cost was also relatively high for shipping to Australia. What I would like so far is a 1860 blade with a 1917 hilt but unfortunately that doesn't exist but yours does look interesting.
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Post by SPQR on May 7, 2013 21:26:15 GMT
Hey Downunder, Ya, Cutlasses are pretty interesting. They were all intended for issue to the common sailors, officers having their personal swords at hand (on Navy ships, anyway; civilians used whatever). I've read that Marines would carry them on boarding/raiding parties, muskets being a bit long and difficult to maneuver on board a ship. Besides which, a cutlass is unaffected by the wet, and doesn't take a lot of training. I'm planning on cobbling something together for a sheath; probably not anything too fancy, just a blade cover really. The sheath that Windlass puts on the M1860 is pretty generic, but OK for the price point. I sharpen my own blades; KOA puts a secondary bevel on them. I've got a proper small belt grinder so I can sharpen almost anything. Except Darksword Armory! I figure if I hate it, I can either re-hilt it into something different, or sell it and almost certainly get my money back out of it. Maybe I could dig up a Briquet grip and remake it into a Naval Briquet?
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Post by William Swiger on May 8, 2013 3:47:05 GMT
I bought a sabre off IMA a year ago and the hilt was very loose. Have not really looked at their stuff since then.
Keep us posted.
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Post by SPQR on May 16, 2013 3:52:19 GMT
SO my cutlass arrived today, and I must say I find myself well pleased. It arrived packed well and survived the trip from Jersey just fine. The blade arrived covered with a heavy oil and dirt mixture that came off easily with a household degreaser to reveal a blade that shines like a new dime, with only some very, very minor blemishes that may in fact prove to be just old gunk. If not, Mothers mag wheel polish will take it off like it was never there. The pictures will show you the condition, which is superior to many "new" swords I've seen. The grip is solid with no play and fits the hand well. Now, for some observations: You may notice more than a passing resemblance to the "Pirate Cutlass" from Windlass. I am 99.5 percent sure this item is also a Windlass product. The blade is clearly hand forged, and tempered properly as it flexes and returns to true. The measurements at KOA for the Pirate's Cutlass match this one. The blade shows great distal taper, much more so than I expected. For this reason, the POB for the French cutlass is a full inch further back than the PC. Whoever the moron was who claimed the guard is cast aluminum was wrong; good solid steel here, and no mistake (this probably helps the POB too). Dry handling reveals a remarkably nimble blade, especially for a broad chopper like this, but don't get the wrong idea, as it's not a rapier or smallsword. Swords of this type require muscle to control, but this one feels like it's much shorter and lighter than it actually is, always a sign of proper execution of a good design. Speaking of design...this actually turns out to be a darn faithful copy of the "Sabre du Bord AN X", circa 1803 or so. The spine is marked with Klingenthal manufacturing marks, but is not dated. The anchors on the blade are nicely done, although one side is off center, but for all I know they might have been done this way on the original. There are no proof or acceptance stamps either. I'll write a full review later, but it's pretty dang nice, especially for the price point. Here are some quickie pics I shot this evening:
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Post by William Swiger on May 16, 2013 3:57:29 GMT
Congratulations!
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Post by downunder on May 16, 2013 9:43:42 GMT
Looks good. I can't wait (but I'll have to) to see your review.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jul 2, 2013 17:31:54 GMT
Any updates or changes in opinions since this one came in?
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Post by jlwilliams on Jul 2, 2013 18:07:03 GMT
That's a mighty fine lookingcutlass
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jul 6, 2013 1:45:54 GMT
Well, I've got one on the way. It'll fit in with my "French or quasi-French" collection.
"Board the boarding party!"
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jul 10, 2013 2:34:23 GMT
Mine arrived today. Everything SPQR said seems to be pretty much dead on. I quite like it. It fits in nicely with my two true French blades---an 1822 Legere (yippee kay-yay!) and a French produced 1871 for Chile export saber. The Klingenthal engraving on the cutlass (hereinafter "SdB" for "Sabre de Bord") is cruder than on the Legere. Glancing over the Windlass Pirate cutlass statistics, it's obvious that this tracks closely but started off from thicker stock. I haven't put the calipers to it yet, but it's definitely more than the 4.5mm KOA lists the cutlass at.
The steel bowl and guard is chunky: you could do some smash and punch with this with no worries. (As a point of contrast, however lovely it is, the guard on my Hanwei Renaissance Side Sword is much more fragile than this.)
This one deserves some touching up in the form of a good cleaning and a sharpening, but it's tight and well put together. I haven't handled the 1860 or pirate cutlasses by Windlass, but I'd bet I like this one better: good distal taper, good steel bowl, an excellent rendition of an early Close Quarters Battle sword.
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Post by downunder on Jul 12, 2013 0:06:03 GMT
Could you tell me the weight of this cutlass and the position of its point of balance.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jul 12, 2013 1:44:52 GMT
Mine answers to 1.29 kilos, or two pounds thirteen, a chunky little beast, with a five inch point of balance.
Edited to add: 8mm (!) at base of blade, 5mm at POB, 4mm 5" from tip, 3mm 1" from tip.
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Post by downunder on Jul 12, 2013 3:02:24 GMT
Wow, that was quick, thanks for that information Kilted Cossack.
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Post by SPQR on Jul 12, 2013 15:54:17 GMT
I've grown to like mine quite a bit. I've been working on putting an edge on it, and the steel is hard, but not too hard a la Darksword armory, who seemingly forge swords from armor plate cut from old tanks. While there's no shortage of meat on this blade, the distal taper really helps. It's hardly a rapier, but it's a good deal better than many other replicas I have handled. Cutlasses tend to be blade heavy, but at least the French effort shows some style-The British figure 8 guard cutlass of the same period has been described as "a sharpened iron bar for hitting Frenchmen with", which is pretty accurate.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jul 30, 2013 18:53:37 GMT
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Post by cearball on May 23, 2018 3:41:34 GMT
Necromancy!
Bumping this as I am considering buying one of these swords & before I pull the trigger wanted to know if the tang is peened or not.
Anyone know?
Thanks
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2018 4:28:26 GMT
Peened
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Post by cearball on May 23, 2018 7:11:07 GMT
Thanks.
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