Deepeeka + Hanwei
May 13, 2013 2:20:47 GMT
Post by Morsus on May 13, 2013 2:20:47 GMT
Alright. Yep. Brass Swept Hilt Dagger review. Also, this is a double feature review. I just picked my Hanwei Claymore up last Thursday and I'm going to review that as well.
Introduction
The dagger was a Valentine's Day gift for my girlfriend back in February and she absolutely loved it when she laid eyes on it(Which is a good thing because if she didn't then she probably would've had reason to actually use it.)
I had not actually looked at any reviews of the dagger but it looked pretty cool and it was something she liked so I rolled the dice.
Historical overview
This is a Brass Swept Hilt Dagger and as far as I know its designed to be used alongside a rapier for parrying and deflection of opponent's blades. It appears to be of a historical design and doesn't have any fantasy looks or designs to it.
Full Disclosure
I have no relationship between Deepeeka or Kult of Athena except as a regular customer. Therefore, my bias should be minimal if not non-existent.
Initial Impressions
KoA packaged this with my Hanwei Bastard Sword when I ordered it and it was packaged fairly well. The dagger came in great condition. No scraps, scuffs, etc.
The piece is not sharpened however it does have a pointy end, (not rounded) which could easily stab someone with a little force behind it.
As for dry handling, it feels nice. The wire wrap hilt is nice for decoration and feels comfortable. However, that being said, I cannot imagine the hilt actually remaining comfortable in the hand for a sustained period of time because it does become slippery pretty quickly.
The weight of the dagger is comfortable for me, however it seems slightly on the heavy side weighing in at just over a pound and a half.
The balance seems fair and it feels nice when taking practice swings.
There were no real qualms I have with anything except for one which is the sheathe. When the blade is sheathed, the groove in the collar of the scabbard does not cover all the way of the short ricasso of the blade. Basically when its sheathed, a slight portion of the ricasso right from the guard is exposed. www.kultofathena.com/images/AH3258_1_l.jpg The little part of the guard overlapping the blade is longer than the indent in the collar of the scabbard. (Difficult to explain and I forgot to take pictures last night when I was over my girlfriend's.)
Statistics
Taken from KoA site.
Overall Length: 19 1/2 In Blade: 14 In
Weight: 1 lb 9 oz
Edge: Blunt
P.O.B.: 1 1/4''
Thickness: 5.2 mm - 5 mm
Width: 43.4 mm
Grip Length: 3 3/8''
Pommel: Threaded
Components
I absolutely love the design of the pommel and guard and its definitely my favorite part of the dagger.
The blade looks nice, however I find it a little to thick and wide for the size of the dagger.
The sheathe is alright to me but definitely not ideal. I feel like the metal fittings could have been adjusted better.
Conclusions
My girlfriend and I really like this dagger. I really kinda wanted to keep it once I picked it up but I think that would have went badly. I've heard a few mixed reviews on Deepeeka about their swords but if their daggers are solidly built like this one then I can see myself possibly ordering another in the future.
Pros
Nice design and makes for some nice eye candy I find.
Solid fittings, nothing loose at all.
Comfortable to dry handle.
Very nice color to it.
Cons
Scabbard could be better.
Wire wrap can become slippery after a while when handling.
A bit on the heavy side for a dagger, even one as long as this.
Blade is dull(not the con) but the tip still has a lot of potential for doing a lot of damage, so it would be bad to spar/reenact with.
The Bottom Line
I'd recommend this as a nice decorative piece and I imagine it would be a decent cutter as it has enough length to reasonably swing at targets like you would with a sword. If you're looking for a lighter dagger, then I'd rule this out, as its a bit more of a shortsword.
We enjoyed the piece and its solidly built.
And on to the "side attraction". Ok, this is really the main feature but I just wanted it to be a surprise.
Introduction
Alrighty. Well, I was looking originally for a zweihander before I purchased this beast but I couldn't really find a non-custom zweihander in NA and everything else was from Europe which would have killed me in international shipping and customs. So I decided to open up to a few more suggestions and ideas and I actually went back to one of the first suggested swords which was a big ol' trusty Hanwei Claymore and I eventually decided upon that.
Historical overview
The Claymore is, from pictures I've looked at of antiqued versions, rather accurate and possesses damn near every feature the antiqued version does. The blade may be a little thicker and the globe pommel might be differ but thats really minor to me. Overall, this is, on majority, historically accurate.
Full Disclosure
Uhh... I have Scottish Heritage which also played a part in my reason to purchase but beyond that I have no other inclination to be biased in anyway.
Initial Impressions
Unpacking this. Well, the box was damn near bigger than me and I was absolutely stunned when I first laid eyes on it. The beast was packed extremely well, a box within a box where it was sheathed in a plastic cover with a tip guard.
There were no scuffs or scrapes or anything serious except a few small dusty areas which are probably my own fault for not managing to get to the post office to pick it up for almost two weeks after it came in.
Well, I just looked at the sword and I really didn't expect it to be as massive as it actually is. Pictures do not do this beast justice in the least, I think.
Statistics:
Taken from Kult of Athena
Overall Length: 55 3/3
Blade Length: 41 inches
Weight: 5 lb 3 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 5 3/8''
Thickness: 5.7 mm - 3.4 mm
Width: 45.9 mm
Grip Length: 10 1/2''
Pommel: Peened
Components
(No pictures at the moment but I will upload some in the next few days when I have time.)
The Blade is definitely my favorite part about this beast. Its extremely long and damn near two inches wide. The blade also came razor sharp, which I suspect may have been caused by the great folks at KoA. (Much sharper than my previous Hanwei Bastard came.) I love the langets and the rivet in the blade doesn't bother me much at all. Although they seem just slightly off center they're definitely a nice visual addition and I think the rivet adds a little strength to the guard and blade. (Seems as though it would but if it has no impact whatsover, please correct me here!)
The Pommel had a nicely done peen that looks very neat and tidy and rather natural to the sword. I enjoy the shape of the pommel as its very comfortable to hold and has a simple yet nice pattern.
The Guard. I love the guard and its one of my favorite parts of the sword. The quatrefoils are very well done as well as everything else.
The Handle. Heres the slight issue I have and its hardly really one at all. The leather comes up slightly short to the guard so when I slapped the pommel to look at the C.O.P I could feel vibrations through my fingers in the small, minuscule gap between the leather and the guard. This only happens when I have my hand wrapped about both, the guard and the leather.
Also, the leather wrap has some slight scuffs and one little scratch but I really don't mind that at all. Especially since I plan on getting some white silk string.
Handling Characteristics
There is a long of length to the blade of this sword and thats where most of the weight lies. Swinging this around can tire someone out pretty quickly if they're not well accustomed to it. Its massive and measures slightly higher than my shoulder. Its a massive two-handed sword and I feel nothing but pure, raw power when I hold it in a battle stance. This is not a naturally agile sword however its powerful, big, heavy, strong and can be very fast.
Conclusions
I absolutely love this beast and its definitely my favorite so far and probably will be for a while. I cannot stress enough how beautiful, powerful and massive this sword is. I cannot wait to take this beast out to do some cutting.
Pros
Solid fittings.
Beautiful Sword.
Came Very sharp for me.
Great Warsword, especially for the price.
Cons
No Scabbard/Sheathe.
Slightly loose leather grip.
The Bottom Line
Great sword for a great price. Great beauty, very solid and perfect for those looking for a giant Warsword for their collection or to prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse. Full recommendation from me.
Edit: As promised, here are the pictures. I apologize for the slight blur on some. I'm no professional photographer and while I'm good with most technology cameras kind of slip my grasp.
I did some cutting with this beast and it handles rather smoothly I find. It does have weight behind it when it gets going so theres really no stopping half way through a strike - its full commitment once it goes. The box is whats left after I got through with it and while it is only cardboard, the Claymore sliced through it like butter. With force behind this, a zombie limb can be lopped off very easily!
Nice handling, solid and sharp and very powerful.
Introduction
The dagger was a Valentine's Day gift for my girlfriend back in February and she absolutely loved it when she laid eyes on it(Which is a good thing because if she didn't then she probably would've had reason to actually use it.)
I had not actually looked at any reviews of the dagger but it looked pretty cool and it was something she liked so I rolled the dice.
Historical overview
This is a Brass Swept Hilt Dagger and as far as I know its designed to be used alongside a rapier for parrying and deflection of opponent's blades. It appears to be of a historical design and doesn't have any fantasy looks or designs to it.
Full Disclosure
I have no relationship between Deepeeka or Kult of Athena except as a regular customer. Therefore, my bias should be minimal if not non-existent.
Initial Impressions
KoA packaged this with my Hanwei Bastard Sword when I ordered it and it was packaged fairly well. The dagger came in great condition. No scraps, scuffs, etc.
The piece is not sharpened however it does have a pointy end, (not rounded) which could easily stab someone with a little force behind it.
As for dry handling, it feels nice. The wire wrap hilt is nice for decoration and feels comfortable. However, that being said, I cannot imagine the hilt actually remaining comfortable in the hand for a sustained period of time because it does become slippery pretty quickly.
The weight of the dagger is comfortable for me, however it seems slightly on the heavy side weighing in at just over a pound and a half.
The balance seems fair and it feels nice when taking practice swings.
There were no real qualms I have with anything except for one which is the sheathe. When the blade is sheathed, the groove in the collar of the scabbard does not cover all the way of the short ricasso of the blade. Basically when its sheathed, a slight portion of the ricasso right from the guard is exposed. www.kultofathena.com/images/AH3258_1_l.jpg The little part of the guard overlapping the blade is longer than the indent in the collar of the scabbard. (Difficult to explain and I forgot to take pictures last night when I was over my girlfriend's.)
Statistics
Taken from KoA site.
Overall Length: 19 1/2 In Blade: 14 In
Weight: 1 lb 9 oz
Edge: Blunt
P.O.B.: 1 1/4''
Thickness: 5.2 mm - 5 mm
Width: 43.4 mm
Grip Length: 3 3/8''
Pommel: Threaded
Components
I absolutely love the design of the pommel and guard and its definitely my favorite part of the dagger.
The blade looks nice, however I find it a little to thick and wide for the size of the dagger.
The sheathe is alright to me but definitely not ideal. I feel like the metal fittings could have been adjusted better.
Conclusions
My girlfriend and I really like this dagger. I really kinda wanted to keep it once I picked it up but I think that would have went badly. I've heard a few mixed reviews on Deepeeka about their swords but if their daggers are solidly built like this one then I can see myself possibly ordering another in the future.
Pros
Nice design and makes for some nice eye candy I find.
Solid fittings, nothing loose at all.
Comfortable to dry handle.
Very nice color to it.
Cons
Scabbard could be better.
Wire wrap can become slippery after a while when handling.
A bit on the heavy side for a dagger, even one as long as this.
Blade is dull(not the con) but the tip still has a lot of potential for doing a lot of damage, so it would be bad to spar/reenact with.
The Bottom Line
I'd recommend this as a nice decorative piece and I imagine it would be a decent cutter as it has enough length to reasonably swing at targets like you would with a sword. If you're looking for a lighter dagger, then I'd rule this out, as its a bit more of a shortsword.
We enjoyed the piece and its solidly built.
And on to the "side attraction". Ok, this is really the main feature but I just wanted it to be a surprise.
Introduction
Alrighty. Well, I was looking originally for a zweihander before I purchased this beast but I couldn't really find a non-custom zweihander in NA and everything else was from Europe which would have killed me in international shipping and customs. So I decided to open up to a few more suggestions and ideas and I actually went back to one of the first suggested swords which was a big ol' trusty Hanwei Claymore and I eventually decided upon that.
Historical overview
The Claymore is, from pictures I've looked at of antiqued versions, rather accurate and possesses damn near every feature the antiqued version does. The blade may be a little thicker and the globe pommel might be differ but thats really minor to me. Overall, this is, on majority, historically accurate.
Full Disclosure
Uhh... I have Scottish Heritage which also played a part in my reason to purchase but beyond that I have no other inclination to be biased in anyway.
Initial Impressions
Unpacking this. Well, the box was damn near bigger than me and I was absolutely stunned when I first laid eyes on it. The beast was packed extremely well, a box within a box where it was sheathed in a plastic cover with a tip guard.
There were no scuffs or scrapes or anything serious except a few small dusty areas which are probably my own fault for not managing to get to the post office to pick it up for almost two weeks after it came in.
Well, I just looked at the sword and I really didn't expect it to be as massive as it actually is. Pictures do not do this beast justice in the least, I think.
Statistics:
Taken from Kult of Athena
Overall Length: 55 3/3
Blade Length: 41 inches
Weight: 5 lb 3 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 5 3/8''
Thickness: 5.7 mm - 3.4 mm
Width: 45.9 mm
Grip Length: 10 1/2''
Pommel: Peened
Components
(No pictures at the moment but I will upload some in the next few days when I have time.)
The Blade is definitely my favorite part about this beast. Its extremely long and damn near two inches wide. The blade also came razor sharp, which I suspect may have been caused by the great folks at KoA. (Much sharper than my previous Hanwei Bastard came.) I love the langets and the rivet in the blade doesn't bother me much at all. Although they seem just slightly off center they're definitely a nice visual addition and I think the rivet adds a little strength to the guard and blade. (Seems as though it would but if it has no impact whatsover, please correct me here!)
The Pommel had a nicely done peen that looks very neat and tidy and rather natural to the sword. I enjoy the shape of the pommel as its very comfortable to hold and has a simple yet nice pattern.
The Guard. I love the guard and its one of my favorite parts of the sword. The quatrefoils are very well done as well as everything else.
The Handle. Heres the slight issue I have and its hardly really one at all. The leather comes up slightly short to the guard so when I slapped the pommel to look at the C.O.P I could feel vibrations through my fingers in the small, minuscule gap between the leather and the guard. This only happens when I have my hand wrapped about both, the guard and the leather.
Also, the leather wrap has some slight scuffs and one little scratch but I really don't mind that at all. Especially since I plan on getting some white silk string.
Handling Characteristics
There is a long of length to the blade of this sword and thats where most of the weight lies. Swinging this around can tire someone out pretty quickly if they're not well accustomed to it. Its massive and measures slightly higher than my shoulder. Its a massive two-handed sword and I feel nothing but pure, raw power when I hold it in a battle stance. This is not a naturally agile sword however its powerful, big, heavy, strong and can be very fast.
Conclusions
I absolutely love this beast and its definitely my favorite so far and probably will be for a while. I cannot stress enough how beautiful, powerful and massive this sword is. I cannot wait to take this beast out to do some cutting.
Pros
Solid fittings.
Beautiful Sword.
Came Very sharp for me.
Great Warsword, especially for the price.
Cons
No Scabbard/Sheathe.
Slightly loose leather grip.
The Bottom Line
Great sword for a great price. Great beauty, very solid and perfect for those looking for a giant Warsword for their collection or to prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse. Full recommendation from me.
Edit: As promised, here are the pictures. I apologize for the slight blur on some. I'm no professional photographer and while I'm good with most technology cameras kind of slip my grasp.
I did some cutting with this beast and it handles rather smoothly I find. It does have weight behind it when it gets going so theres really no stopping half way through a strike - its full commitment once it goes. The box is whats left after I got through with it and while it is only cardboard, the Claymore sliced through it like butter. With force behind this, a zombie limb can be lopped off very easily!
Nice handling, solid and sharp and very powerful.