DSA The Longford Sword New Version
Jul 8, 2014 18:26:37 GMT
Post by William Swiger on Jul 8, 2014 18:26:37 GMT
I bought this sword from KOA and have no personal or professional relationship with KOA or DSA.
The Longford Sword:
Overall Length: 46 5/8"
Blade Length: 36 1/8"
Blade Width: 2 1/8"
Thickness: 5.3 mm - 2.6 mm
Weight: 3 lb 2.3 oz
Grip Length: 7 3/8"
POB: 4"
KOA Cost: $483.95, Sharpening $30.00
Product Description:
It is a misconception that European Medieval and Renaissance warriors had little technique, and instead pounded each other with grievously heavy weapons until one perished or collapsed, defeated from exhaustion. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and the surviving fighting manuals from the Renaissance arms masters prove this. A wealth of demonstrated technique is illustrated, much of it intricate and requiring more from the realm of timing, footwork, technique and finesse than brute force.
The warrior had many advanced techniques; feigned attacks, parry and counter-attack actions, grappling, intricate disarming, half-swording, hilt-striking and quick, timed cuts. - The skilled fighter utilized a vast wealth of techniques to overcome his opponents. A favored weapon for the teaching masters of the day was the longsword, for it allowed all of the above techniques to be utilized.
These masters, concentrated in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, would have taught their war-minded pupils to use a longsword such as this. This one, dubbed the Longford from Darksword Armory, has the strongly tapering blade favored in the late medieval and Renaissance era. A strong taper greatly aids to shave weight off the tip, making for a better balanced sword that can also execute deadly accurate thrusts. A thickened ricasso above the blade gives a good grip for the gloved half-swording technique. A curved guard halts the cuts of the foe, and an elongated scent stopper pommel gives a longer grip, allowing for increased leverage in a swing. The namesake of the sword, Longford, is a castle in Wiltshire, England.
The unsharpened blade is made from 1060 High Carbon Steel and is tempered to a Rockwell Hardness of 53. The blade is fitted through a steel guard and pommel and is peened in place for strength. The wooden grip is tightly wrapped and stitched with brown leather. The sword comes with a wood-core scabbard with a steel chape. It is wrapped in form-fitting brown leather and includes an integrated leather sword belt.
Good Impressions: The blade on this DSA is the best I have seen from the several I have owned in the past. The finish is well done without the usual waviness. The sword is tight. The grip is comfortable and the wrap decent. The blade sharpening is well done with a slight secondary bevel. Not sure if KOA sharpened it or it came sharp from DSA. Fullers are well executed with only one very small section a little off. It has decent taper. The sword is light in hand and handles well. The flex is very good:
Not So Good Impressions: The scabbard is decent but is not at all fitted to the sword and it has much movement and falls right out of the scabbard. The pommel and guard had a fair amount of what looked like rust or staining. I used a scotch pad and metal polish which removed most of it but some is still there which is a big negative.
The blade has some staining or something that would not come off near the guard. Another big negative after having the same issue on the hilt.
The pommel cosmetic peen (advertised as peened assembly) does not totally fill the space. Very disappointing from the visual appeal factor.
In the opening of the guard on both sides, you can see glue in and under it.
Pommel is off center. Very big negative.
Final Thoughts: If this model is indicative of DSA moving forward, they are on the right track. This blade is better from the past swords I have owned from them. There are shortcomings with the scabbard fit, off center pommel, rust/staining on the hilt, staining on the blade and a few other imperfections. Now we get to cost. Over 500 USD with the sharpening option. If the sword fit the scabbard well and did not have the noted imperfections, I would say yes to the price.
I consulted with my fellow reviewer who watched me put this together and he agrees:
The Longford Sword:
Overall Length: 46 5/8"
Blade Length: 36 1/8"
Blade Width: 2 1/8"
Thickness: 5.3 mm - 2.6 mm
Weight: 3 lb 2.3 oz
Grip Length: 7 3/8"
POB: 4"
KOA Cost: $483.95, Sharpening $30.00
Product Description:
It is a misconception that European Medieval and Renaissance warriors had little technique, and instead pounded each other with grievously heavy weapons until one perished or collapsed, defeated from exhaustion. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and the surviving fighting manuals from the Renaissance arms masters prove this. A wealth of demonstrated technique is illustrated, much of it intricate and requiring more from the realm of timing, footwork, technique and finesse than brute force.
The warrior had many advanced techniques; feigned attacks, parry and counter-attack actions, grappling, intricate disarming, half-swording, hilt-striking and quick, timed cuts. - The skilled fighter utilized a vast wealth of techniques to overcome his opponents. A favored weapon for the teaching masters of the day was the longsword, for it allowed all of the above techniques to be utilized.
These masters, concentrated in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, would have taught their war-minded pupils to use a longsword such as this. This one, dubbed the Longford from Darksword Armory, has the strongly tapering blade favored in the late medieval and Renaissance era. A strong taper greatly aids to shave weight off the tip, making for a better balanced sword that can also execute deadly accurate thrusts. A thickened ricasso above the blade gives a good grip for the gloved half-swording technique. A curved guard halts the cuts of the foe, and an elongated scent stopper pommel gives a longer grip, allowing for increased leverage in a swing. The namesake of the sword, Longford, is a castle in Wiltshire, England.
The unsharpened blade is made from 1060 High Carbon Steel and is tempered to a Rockwell Hardness of 53. The blade is fitted through a steel guard and pommel and is peened in place for strength. The wooden grip is tightly wrapped and stitched with brown leather. The sword comes with a wood-core scabbard with a steel chape. It is wrapped in form-fitting brown leather and includes an integrated leather sword belt.
Good Impressions: The blade on this DSA is the best I have seen from the several I have owned in the past. The finish is well done without the usual waviness. The sword is tight. The grip is comfortable and the wrap decent. The blade sharpening is well done with a slight secondary bevel. Not sure if KOA sharpened it or it came sharp from DSA. Fullers are well executed with only one very small section a little off. It has decent taper. The sword is light in hand and handles well. The flex is very good:
Not So Good Impressions: The scabbard is decent but is not at all fitted to the sword and it has much movement and falls right out of the scabbard. The pommel and guard had a fair amount of what looked like rust or staining. I used a scotch pad and metal polish which removed most of it but some is still there which is a big negative.
The blade has some staining or something that would not come off near the guard. Another big negative after having the same issue on the hilt.
The pommel cosmetic peen (advertised as peened assembly) does not totally fill the space. Very disappointing from the visual appeal factor.
In the opening of the guard on both sides, you can see glue in and under it.
Pommel is off center. Very big negative.
Final Thoughts: If this model is indicative of DSA moving forward, they are on the right track. This blade is better from the past swords I have owned from them. There are shortcomings with the scabbard fit, off center pommel, rust/staining on the hilt, staining on the blade and a few other imperfections. Now we get to cost. Over 500 USD with the sharpening option. If the sword fit the scabbard well and did not have the noted imperfections, I would say yes to the price.
I consulted with my fellow reviewer who watched me put this together and he agrees: