New Valiant Armoury Kriegschwert with Templar Pommel
Sept 28, 2014 18:20:08 GMT
Post by Seth C on Sept 28, 2014 18:20:08 GMT
Introduction
I’ve always had an interest in swords as a history buff, particularly medieval swords. My only experience with “real” swords was my brother-in-law’s “Highlander” katana—which I thought was the coolest thing ever. He also collected Gil Hibben knives and ended up on the Museum Replicas Limited mailing list. He gave me one of their catalogs, and I was entranced. Once I was on my own and had a bit of extra money, I purchased several MRL/Windlass swords. I began buying swords before knowing a whole lot about them. I’ve read several books and a lot of forum information since then. A better understanding of swords has made me want to collect some higher quality pieces.
I really wanted a hand and half “war sword” with a blade 35-37” long and weighing between 3 and 3 ½ lbs. I drooled over some Albion swords for some years, particularly the Steward, and the Duke because I really liked the Type XIIa and XIIIa blades. Then I came upon Valiant Armoury. From reading reviews, it seemed this swords really fit a price and quality niche above manufacturers like Windlass but perhaps a bit below Albion though that is subjective.
I really liked two of their offerings, the Templar War Sword and the Kriegschwert. I liked the Kriegschwert blade, cross guard, and grip better than the Templar war sword. I also liked that the Kriegschwert was heavier. But I really liked the J pommel on the Templar with the inset cross. I hit the custom sword shoppe a couple of weeks ago and saw both these swords were on sale for $440.00. I emailed Sonny and asked if I could the Templar pommel put on the Kriegschwert, and he said yes at no additional cost. That was the clincher so I ordered it and it arrived within a week.
There is another excellent review of the Kriegschwert in the review index by ChrisA which also helped me to decide to purchase this sword. Dave Kelly reviewed the Templar War Sword and put an excellent picture of it side by side with a Kriegschwert. This also helped me make decision so thanks to both of you. I hope this review will add some value as well. Here are the pictures Sonny posted of my sword on Facebook before mailing it out.
Historical overview
As mentioned, Chris A reviewed the Kriegschwert as well. He stated” The Kriegschwert is an Oakeshott type XIIa. Type XII's were an upgrade to earlier designs by improving thrusting without sacrificing the cut. Still mostly a cutter, typeXII's were capable of thrusts against lightly armored opponents. Type XIIa is the two handed version of type XII. Kriegschwert means "Warsword" in German.”
I don’t have anything to add to that except this sword is not claimed to be based on any original but is a blade design by Angus Trim with fittings and scabbard designed by Christian Fletcher. I believe Sonny Suttles of Valiant Armory assembles the swords and does the leather work.
Full Disclosure
I have no connection with the manufacturer. As stated above, my experience with swords thus far has been with Windlass products so I can only compare this sword to those.
Initial Impressions
The sword was securely packaged and arrived undamaged. The sword was in its sheath inside a cardboard sleeve inside a box.
When I finally I freed the sword from its packaging, I was blown away. It looks magnificent. I had an oxblood grip with an antique brown sheath and oxblood straps. The color combination really works well. The pommel and cross guard look great together. The grip sits very nice in the hand, and when I drew the sword it was a thrill. To me the blade proportions are pleasing to the eye, and all the components of the sword fit well together visually and mechanically.
Statistics
I’ve included the advertised measurements and measurements I took. The website does note these are hand forged and so the stats can vary as you will see.
Advertised/As Measured
Blade Length: 35” / 35”
Grip Length: 7”/ 7”
Overall Length: 44 3/8” / 44 ½”
Guard: NA / 9”
POB (Point of Balance): 6” / 6”
COP (Center of Percussion): 23”/NM
Blade Width at hilt: NA / 1 ¾”
Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz/ 2 lbs 14.9 oz as measured on two different digital scales.
Blade Thickness (not advertised):
At hilt: 7/32”
Halfway down fuller: 6/32”
At fuller’s end: 5/32”
2 inches from tip: 4/32”
The only major difference from the advertised and measured sword was the weight. Mine was a tad over 5 ounces lighter than advertised. I thought the different pommel may have something to do with it, but if it had, I would have expected the POB to change, which it didn’t. So I am not sure if the advertised weight is wrong or if there can be a variance of 5 ounces in these swords. Mr. Kelly’s review listed his Kriegschwert as 2.6 lbs so I am inclined to believe these may run lower than advertised.
Components
The Blade
35” long blade with a gradual taper that comes to a abrupt point. The blade is a lenticular cross-section. The fuller runs for 25” of the 35” inch blade. The tip flattens out noticeably, but could deliver a good thrust. The finish on the blade is brushed, and there were some minor scrathes which I think were from being the in scabbard. The fuller on one side was visibly asymmetrical (see the photo below). I don’t know if this will have any detrimental effect on the sword, but it isn’t too noticeable.
The Handle
The grip is really excellent. The taper with 4 risers feels good in the hand. The cord wrap is well done with an almost invisible seam. The oxblood color is rich and handsome.
The Guard
I like the flared guard on the Kriegschwert a lot. It gives it an ornate but not ostentatious look. The guard is stainless steel so it isn’t historically accurate. But it looks good, and there are no casting defects. At least I won’t have to worry about rust too much.
The Pommel
As mentioned, the pommel is from the Templar War Sword. It too is stainless steel. I really liked the inset cross. I think it complements the Kriegschwert well. The inset portion has a rougher texture than the rest of the brushed pommel. If the pommel and guard weren’t stainless steel, I would probably blue them leaving the inset unblued to provide a nice texture. I know there are stainless steel blackening compounds out there, and I may look into it someday.
I had the pommel peened as you can see in the picture. I wanted this sword to be as solid as possible, and I have no interest in disassembling the sword. The peen isn’t flush or blended in any way to the sword. Some may not like that look, but I do.
The Scabbard
My previous experience with scabbards has been solely with those provided with Windlass swords. This scabbard is a vast improvement on those. The fit and finish are beautiful. It is wood wrapped in leather. I opted for the antique brown finish and it is looks great. The straps are oxblood to match the handle, and the two colors really complement each other. The belt is oxblood as well. The belt buckle is kind of flimsy, but it would be easy to replace the buckle. Perhaps most importantly, the scabbard holds the sword securely allowing me to turn it upside down without the sword falling out. However, the sword draws easily from the scabbard when desired. The scabbard and suspension system really add a lot of value to the package.
Handling Characteristics
I am about 6' tall and 200 lbs. This sword fit me really well. This sword handles beautifully. It is very fast. I can wield in one hand with my hand up against the guard nearly as easily as with two. As mentioned, my only basis of comparison are my Windlass swords, and this sword feels much better in hand than any of them. The most comparable sword I have is the Towton which is the same length and few ounces lighter. The Kriegschwert feels lighter and faster. I was expected a noticeably heavier sword, but it really isn’t. The stats of my Kriegschwert are similar to Albion’s Steward so I would be curious to see how they compare. The blade has no discernable “whippiness” and the point controls really well. As a one-handed sword, it is faster than my Windlass Classic Medieval Sword (to be fair that sword weighs 3 lbs 3 oz). With two hands, this thing really gets moving. It is easy to control and not fatiguing due to its light weight.
As mentioned, I was expecting a sword closer to 3 lbs 4 oz. Although it may seem small, 5 ounces is a noticeable amount of weight on a sword. If this sword had an additional 5 ounces on it, the handling would be different. It’s hard to believe these swords would have a + or – 5 ounce variance on the weight when all the other measurements match so closely. So I think perhaps the advertised weight might be off. I would be curious to know what other owners of Kriegschwerts weigh them at.
Test Cutting
I haven’t done any test cutting yet. Although I did cut a moth in half as it was flying through my garage.
Conclusions
I really like this sword. It really feels great in the hand and looks fantastic too. It really leaves my Windlass offerings behind in aesthetics and handling. The price was reasonable especially considering the top quality scabbard system that comes with the sword. I will consider purchasing a Valiant sword in the future.
Pros
Excellent customer service from Sonny Suttles
Nice lively blade
Excellent grip and nice looking guard and pommel
Beautiful scabbard
Price
Cons
Weight was off from what was advertised--I am not sure if this is really a con as it is noted specs can vary. It's just good to keep in mind because the difference in weight changes the character of the sword.
Fuller on one side is asymmetrical
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword. I think it is an excellent value for the money, and I feel it is a step up in quality over my Windlass collection.
I’ve always had an interest in swords as a history buff, particularly medieval swords. My only experience with “real” swords was my brother-in-law’s “Highlander” katana—which I thought was the coolest thing ever. He also collected Gil Hibben knives and ended up on the Museum Replicas Limited mailing list. He gave me one of their catalogs, and I was entranced. Once I was on my own and had a bit of extra money, I purchased several MRL/Windlass swords. I began buying swords before knowing a whole lot about them. I’ve read several books and a lot of forum information since then. A better understanding of swords has made me want to collect some higher quality pieces.
I really wanted a hand and half “war sword” with a blade 35-37” long and weighing between 3 and 3 ½ lbs. I drooled over some Albion swords for some years, particularly the Steward, and the Duke because I really liked the Type XIIa and XIIIa blades. Then I came upon Valiant Armoury. From reading reviews, it seemed this swords really fit a price and quality niche above manufacturers like Windlass but perhaps a bit below Albion though that is subjective.
I really liked two of their offerings, the Templar War Sword and the Kriegschwert. I liked the Kriegschwert blade, cross guard, and grip better than the Templar war sword. I also liked that the Kriegschwert was heavier. But I really liked the J pommel on the Templar with the inset cross. I hit the custom sword shoppe a couple of weeks ago and saw both these swords were on sale for $440.00. I emailed Sonny and asked if I could the Templar pommel put on the Kriegschwert, and he said yes at no additional cost. That was the clincher so I ordered it and it arrived within a week.
There is another excellent review of the Kriegschwert in the review index by ChrisA which also helped me to decide to purchase this sword. Dave Kelly reviewed the Templar War Sword and put an excellent picture of it side by side with a Kriegschwert. This also helped me make decision so thanks to both of you. I hope this review will add some value as well. Here are the pictures Sonny posted of my sword on Facebook before mailing it out.
Historical overview
As mentioned, Chris A reviewed the Kriegschwert as well. He stated” The Kriegschwert is an Oakeshott type XIIa. Type XII's were an upgrade to earlier designs by improving thrusting without sacrificing the cut. Still mostly a cutter, typeXII's were capable of thrusts against lightly armored opponents. Type XIIa is the two handed version of type XII. Kriegschwert means "Warsword" in German.”
I don’t have anything to add to that except this sword is not claimed to be based on any original but is a blade design by Angus Trim with fittings and scabbard designed by Christian Fletcher. I believe Sonny Suttles of Valiant Armory assembles the swords and does the leather work.
Full Disclosure
I have no connection with the manufacturer. As stated above, my experience with swords thus far has been with Windlass products so I can only compare this sword to those.
Initial Impressions
The sword was securely packaged and arrived undamaged. The sword was in its sheath inside a cardboard sleeve inside a box.
When I finally I freed the sword from its packaging, I was blown away. It looks magnificent. I had an oxblood grip with an antique brown sheath and oxblood straps. The color combination really works well. The pommel and cross guard look great together. The grip sits very nice in the hand, and when I drew the sword it was a thrill. To me the blade proportions are pleasing to the eye, and all the components of the sword fit well together visually and mechanically.
Statistics
I’ve included the advertised measurements and measurements I took. The website does note these are hand forged and so the stats can vary as you will see.
Advertised/As Measured
Blade Length: 35” / 35”
Grip Length: 7”/ 7”
Overall Length: 44 3/8” / 44 ½”
Guard: NA / 9”
POB (Point of Balance): 6” / 6”
COP (Center of Percussion): 23”/NM
Blade Width at hilt: NA / 1 ¾”
Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz/ 2 lbs 14.9 oz as measured on two different digital scales.
Blade Thickness (not advertised):
At hilt: 7/32”
Halfway down fuller: 6/32”
At fuller’s end: 5/32”
2 inches from tip: 4/32”
The only major difference from the advertised and measured sword was the weight. Mine was a tad over 5 ounces lighter than advertised. I thought the different pommel may have something to do with it, but if it had, I would have expected the POB to change, which it didn’t. So I am not sure if the advertised weight is wrong or if there can be a variance of 5 ounces in these swords. Mr. Kelly’s review listed his Kriegschwert as 2.6 lbs so I am inclined to believe these may run lower than advertised.
Components
The Blade
35” long blade with a gradual taper that comes to a abrupt point. The blade is a lenticular cross-section. The fuller runs for 25” of the 35” inch blade. The tip flattens out noticeably, but could deliver a good thrust. The finish on the blade is brushed, and there were some minor scrathes which I think were from being the in scabbard. The fuller on one side was visibly asymmetrical (see the photo below). I don’t know if this will have any detrimental effect on the sword, but it isn’t too noticeable.
The Handle
The grip is really excellent. The taper with 4 risers feels good in the hand. The cord wrap is well done with an almost invisible seam. The oxblood color is rich and handsome.
The Guard
I like the flared guard on the Kriegschwert a lot. It gives it an ornate but not ostentatious look. The guard is stainless steel so it isn’t historically accurate. But it looks good, and there are no casting defects. At least I won’t have to worry about rust too much.
The Pommel
As mentioned, the pommel is from the Templar War Sword. It too is stainless steel. I really liked the inset cross. I think it complements the Kriegschwert well. The inset portion has a rougher texture than the rest of the brushed pommel. If the pommel and guard weren’t stainless steel, I would probably blue them leaving the inset unblued to provide a nice texture. I know there are stainless steel blackening compounds out there, and I may look into it someday.
I had the pommel peened as you can see in the picture. I wanted this sword to be as solid as possible, and I have no interest in disassembling the sword. The peen isn’t flush or blended in any way to the sword. Some may not like that look, but I do.
The Scabbard
My previous experience with scabbards has been solely with those provided with Windlass swords. This scabbard is a vast improvement on those. The fit and finish are beautiful. It is wood wrapped in leather. I opted for the antique brown finish and it is looks great. The straps are oxblood to match the handle, and the two colors really complement each other. The belt is oxblood as well. The belt buckle is kind of flimsy, but it would be easy to replace the buckle. Perhaps most importantly, the scabbard holds the sword securely allowing me to turn it upside down without the sword falling out. However, the sword draws easily from the scabbard when desired. The scabbard and suspension system really add a lot of value to the package.
Handling Characteristics
I am about 6' tall and 200 lbs. This sword fit me really well. This sword handles beautifully. It is very fast. I can wield in one hand with my hand up against the guard nearly as easily as with two. As mentioned, my only basis of comparison are my Windlass swords, and this sword feels much better in hand than any of them. The most comparable sword I have is the Towton which is the same length and few ounces lighter. The Kriegschwert feels lighter and faster. I was expected a noticeably heavier sword, but it really isn’t. The stats of my Kriegschwert are similar to Albion’s Steward so I would be curious to see how they compare. The blade has no discernable “whippiness” and the point controls really well. As a one-handed sword, it is faster than my Windlass Classic Medieval Sword (to be fair that sword weighs 3 lbs 3 oz). With two hands, this thing really gets moving. It is easy to control and not fatiguing due to its light weight.
As mentioned, I was expecting a sword closer to 3 lbs 4 oz. Although it may seem small, 5 ounces is a noticeable amount of weight on a sword. If this sword had an additional 5 ounces on it, the handling would be different. It’s hard to believe these swords would have a + or – 5 ounce variance on the weight when all the other measurements match so closely. So I think perhaps the advertised weight might be off. I would be curious to know what other owners of Kriegschwerts weigh them at.
Test Cutting
I haven’t done any test cutting yet. Although I did cut a moth in half as it was flying through my garage.
Conclusions
I really like this sword. It really feels great in the hand and looks fantastic too. It really leaves my Windlass offerings behind in aesthetics and handling. The price was reasonable especially considering the top quality scabbard system that comes with the sword. I will consider purchasing a Valiant sword in the future.
Pros
Excellent customer service from Sonny Suttles
Nice lively blade
Excellent grip and nice looking guard and pommel
Beautiful scabbard
Price
Cons
Weight was off from what was advertised--I am not sure if this is really a con as it is noted specs can vary. It's just good to keep in mind because the difference in weight changes the character of the sword.
Fuller on one side is asymmetrical
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword. I think it is an excellent value for the money, and I feel it is a step up in quality over my Windlass collection.