Castle Keep Custom
Aug 17, 2014 16:16:20 GMT
Post by Sammy1kenobi on Aug 17, 2014 16:16:20 GMT
I had a custom sword and scabbard built by Rob last year. It is a beautiful bastard hand-and-a-half sword with a hot-peened lion paw pommel, lion's head and front-leg hilt, green leather scabbard with Irish clovers and matching belt with Celtic cross inlays. I had custom Gaelic inscriptions of my family name and motto inscribed on the blade as well. What can I say? It is amazing. The exchange rate kicked my butt, and it was expensive, but you get what you pay for. Rob was a great guy to work with and "sweated me in" between projects for a pretty fast turn-around time.
Pros: Everything about the sword is fabulous and was designed by my own ideas, but perfected and created by Rob. The pics tell it all.
Con's: None except the high cost, but hey, it is custom work.
Handling: The sword is a bit heavier than I imagined it would be (about 4.5 -5 lbs), with a P.O.B about 6.25" in front of the hilt. The grip is a true hand and a half and fits my hands best with the smooth side (backside) of the lion's paw pommel toward my palms. Flipping it the other way, the highly detailed claws of the lion's paw pommel actually rub (but don't scratch) my palms.
All of the heaviness seems to leave the blade however, once you start to swing it. It is a tiny bit awkward to swing one handed, but perfectly fluid with two; this is pretty typical of bastard swords however, as they are a kind of hybrid anyway.
Cutting: This thing cuts through anything like hot butter. I was a little timid to test it out due to the cost and wall-hanger family heirloom status, etc. However, those inhibitions were overcome after a few swings. Unlike some other swords I've used that were just beaters, this sword cleanly sliced through water bottles, carpet rolls, and 1 inch diameter tree limbs like they were straws. I worked it out hard for over an hour. No edge or tip damage occurred, no dulling of the edge either, just some minimal scuff marks. What a blade!
My only minor complaint would be that after a heavy workout, the pommel can be ever-so slightly moved about 1/16 of an inch side to side. The hilt can now also be moved ever so slightly about 1/16 of an inch up and down. However, due to the solid construction, there is no worry of the pommel or hilt coming off or breaking loose. My hard use of the sword simply put a tiny bit of slack in the hot fitted furniture.
Summary: If you ever want a custom blade from Rob, I highly recommend him. His work is outstanding.
Pros: Everything about the sword is fabulous and was designed by my own ideas, but perfected and created by Rob. The pics tell it all.
Con's: None except the high cost, but hey, it is custom work.
Handling: The sword is a bit heavier than I imagined it would be (about 4.5 -5 lbs), with a P.O.B about 6.25" in front of the hilt. The grip is a true hand and a half and fits my hands best with the smooth side (backside) of the lion's paw pommel toward my palms. Flipping it the other way, the highly detailed claws of the lion's paw pommel actually rub (but don't scratch) my palms.
All of the heaviness seems to leave the blade however, once you start to swing it. It is a tiny bit awkward to swing one handed, but perfectly fluid with two; this is pretty typical of bastard swords however, as they are a kind of hybrid anyway.
Cutting: This thing cuts through anything like hot butter. I was a little timid to test it out due to the cost and wall-hanger family heirloom status, etc. However, those inhibitions were overcome after a few swings. Unlike some other swords I've used that were just beaters, this sword cleanly sliced through water bottles, carpet rolls, and 1 inch diameter tree limbs like they were straws. I worked it out hard for over an hour. No edge or tip damage occurred, no dulling of the edge either, just some minimal scuff marks. What a blade!
My only minor complaint would be that after a heavy workout, the pommel can be ever-so slightly moved about 1/16 of an inch side to side. The hilt can now also be moved ever so slightly about 1/16 of an inch up and down. However, due to the solid construction, there is no worry of the pommel or hilt coming off or breaking loose. My hard use of the sword simply put a tiny bit of slack in the hot fitted furniture.
Summary: If you ever want a custom blade from Rob, I highly recommend him. His work is outstanding.