I decided to save most of the useful data that Findithuli or however you spell it had put together, before he deleted it.
Here it is, my apologies if this is taboo to do.
HT Rhinelander....
Commercial stats:
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... tard+Sword
Overall Length: 45 1/4'' Blade: 35 3/4''
Retail Price: $345.00
Weight: 3 lb 4 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 5 1/4''
Thickness: 5.8 mm - 3.7 mm
Width: 46.5 mm
Grip Length: 9 5/8''
Pommel: Peened
My sample was purchased about 2011 from KOA. Torn down and rebuilt in early 2014.
Observations:
VERY substantial tang (Micrometer measurements below). TRUE peened pommel, keyed. GUARD actually keyed - HT used interesting inserts for both.
To me? One of the best CONTRUCTED swords I have seen.
Notes: There IS Epoxy in the pommel - tear down by splitting grip, heating pommel to about 300F to break down epoxy. Drive pommel slightly FORWARD, grind off peen. Heat, drive pommel BACK, and off.
Photos:
Sword, grip split.
Tang end - VERY substantial
Tang base, just past guard - VERY substantial
Tang thickness, VERY substantial
Pommel, keyed via an insert
Guard, keyed via an insert
Darksword Armory Archer Sword (OLD MODEL)
Commercial Specs for NEW MODELkultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DSA1313BK
Overall Length: 36 3/4'' Blade: 29 1/2''
$320.00
Weight: 3 lb 6 oz
Edge: Blunt
P.O.B.: 4 1/2''
Thickness: 5.5 mm- 4.6 mm
Width: 52.8 mm
Grip Length: 4 3/4''
Pommel: Peened
My Sample - DSA Archer, purchased about 2009. This is the "Old Model", with a slightly higher weight.
Consider this to be a TYPICAL VENDOR CONSTRUCTION - significant details are consistant across six different DSA offerings,
including Archer, Guardian, Nomad, Sage, Sword of Feanor, Black Death Gothic. I have listed only those models I have in hand - line construction appears to be consistant across all models. I have not yet found an exception.
Observations: Consistant with every sword I own in the DSA line (I DO NOT OWN ALL MODELS), basic construction consists of a 1/4x20 threaded rear tang, threaded pommel with a small hollow, "safety nut and washer". You MUST understand the construction of the DSA line during a teardown - if you do not? Improper teardown could ruin your sword.
THIS sword contains EPOXY - the pommel is THREADED, with a good cosmetic peen. Teardown should start with splitting the grip, heating pommel to about 300F to break down epoxy, twisting pommel IN towards guard, grinding off now exposed Cosmetic Peen, then UNscrewing pommel toward rear. Safety Nut and washer may very well follow the pommel - remove with gentle heat to destroy epoxy.
Basic Construction: Common Across the Line, Based on MY samples:
Tang area Data:
blurry - width at sholder 0.683 US inches
Nominal tang thickness - 0.236 US inches
Thread - 1/4x20 US inches, 0.227 US inches.
TOTAL tang length - roughly 7 US inches. Allow for GUARD and POMMEL dimensions.
Archer pommel, showing small void for the 1/4x20 "Safety Nut".
Opinions on above: Basic Construction of this nature has been seen on DSA, Gen2, and Cold Steel models. It isn't bad -
but be aware that the pommel is NOT keyed on any of these. During teardown, DO NOT drive off the pommel with force -
these units contain THREADING, and must be "unscrewed". Failure to do this may result in a ruined sword.
...and an addition....
My brothers, this is a DATABASE of information. Please refrain from either positive, or negative comments about DSA as a Company. This is "the sword" - X-rayed, and presented for the aid of anyone working with this mode
KOA Details: kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=CS88ITS
Overall Length: 47 1/4'' Blade: 35 5/8''
Price: $249.95
Weight: 2 lb 8 oz
Edge: Very Sharp
P.O.B.: 4 1/4''
Thickness: 6.6 mm - 4.9 mm
Width: 43.8 mm
Grip Length: 8 5/8''
Pommel: Nut
Sample shown here was purchased about 3-4 years ago.
This is a nut-construction (6x1mm) sword. The pommel is a bit unique, as it is HOLLOW, designed to "key" over a wooden tenon extension in the stock grip. A SECOND shaped tenon inserts into a cavity in the guard:
Hollow Pommel.
99
Guard detail showing "mortise" for stock grip.
The tang is decent - but shows a few interesting features - including a WELD at the tang extension.
The tang is decent - but shows a few interesting features - including a WELD at the tang extension. I am not a welder, and can not comment on the quality of this work - our site DOES have data on what constitutes a "good" weld:
Tang: about 9 US inches overall length
Tang extension WELD. Extension threaded 6x1mm.
Tang thickness just prior to weld: 5.47mm at CENTER (see below)
Tang extension major diameter: 5.64mm
Tang width at guard: 24.93mm - VERY substantial
Tang thickness at guard/blade thickness at guard: 6.39mm
Blade thickness about 1" from tip: 3.7mm
Comment on tang: unlike the "rectangular" shape of an HT, THIS tang has more of a diamond cross section. AT CENTER, it averages about 5.5mm. However, it tapers towards the edges to about 2mm. Looking at it, CS pretty much HAD to use a weld for the tang extension, if they wanted to go for "nut" construction.
Darksword Armory Longford Sword (NEW MODEL)
Commercial Specs for NEW MODEL kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DSA1542BRS
Overall Length: 47 3/8'' Blade: 36 7/8''
Weight: 3 lb 2.3 oz
Edge: Unsharpened
P.O.B.: 4 3/4''
Thickness: 5.3 mm - 2.6 mm
Width: 54.2 mm
Grip Length: 7 1/4''
Pommel: Peened
Please note: This is a VERY DIFFERENT Sword than the DSA Longford OLD MODEL
My Sample - DSA Longford NEW Model, purchased 9-16-2014 from William Swigger (revied at:kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DSA1542BRS).
Consider this to be an TYPICAL VENDOR CONSTRUCTION - significant details are consistant across six different DSA offerings, including Archer, Guardian, Nomad, Sage, Sword of Feanor, Black Death Gothic. I have listed only those models I have in hand - line construction appears to be consistent across all models. I have not yet found an exception.
Observations: Consistent with every sword I own in the DSA line (I DO NOT OWN ALL MODELS), basic construction consists of a 1/4x20 threaded rear tang, threaded pommel with a small hollow, "safety nut and washer". You MUST understand the construction of the DSA line during a teardown - if you do not? Improper teardown could ruin your sword.
THIS sword contains EPOXY - the pommel is THREADED, with a good cosmetic peen. Teardown should start with splitting the grip, heating pommel to about 300F to break down epoxy, twisting pommel IN towards guard, grinding off now exposed Cosmetic Peen, then UNscrewing pommel toward rear. Safety Nut and washer may very well follow the pommel - remove with gentle heat to destroy epoxy.
Image - grip split, showing elements separated for clarity:
Tang area Data:
tang width at shoulder 0.573 US inches
tang width at pommel 0.217 US inches
tang thickness shoulder AREA 0.109 US inches
Must stop for a comment: this is completely UN TYPICAL of any other DSA offering I have observed, or any other vendor's offering.
The problem is illustrated best with a second measurement:
tang thickness Center of grip AREA 0.235 US inches
Probable cause for this issue is illustrated by this photo:
As can be seen, the blade fuller of the NEW Model Longford extends a solid 2.5 US inches past the blade shoulders, forcing
the tang thickness in this area down to that of the blade fuller.
Blade thickness at shoulder, measured at fuller EDGE (ie, max thickness) 0.223 US inches
Blade thickness near Center of blade length: 0.167 US inches
Blade thickness near tip: 0.085 US inches
The guard used on the NEW model Longford appears to be the same one designed for the OLD model
Longford. The OLD model Longford used a blade with a fairly thick ricasso, which does not exist on
the NEW model Lonford blade. This results in a great quantity of Epoxy being used in the guard area
to get the guard to fit the NEW model blade:
Guard
Guard fit - visual
Removal of the guard requires one to use heat to break down the epoxy, as well as a fair amount
of digging with small tools.
Pommel
The pommel is threaded 1/4" x 20 US, and is equiped with a small cavity in it's base that is used to hide
a separate Safety nut. As delivered, it is also epoxied and peened.
Guard
Guard fit - visual
Removal of the guard requires one to use heat to break down the epoxy, as well as a fair amount
of digging with small tools.
Pommel
The pommel is threaded 1/4" x 20 US, and is equiped with a small cavity in it's base that is used to hide
a separate Safety nut. As delivered, it is also epoxied and peened.
Decided to not save the Lundemo custom as it's useless to most people.
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