Lockwood Swords XIIa ( video is up)
May 13, 2016 6:14:53 GMT
Post by Razor on May 13, 2016 6:14:53 GMT
Lockwood Swords
Type XIIa
www.lockwood-swords.com/index.php?route=common/home
Introduction
Lockwood Swords is a new sword manufacturer on the market. On one of the Facebook sword groups, Stephan Lockwood , who owns and makes the swords, was asking if anyone wanted to review one of them, and to send him a cutting video. I sent him just that, and mentioned previous reviews that I had written on different swords in the past. As luck would have it, I was hosting a cutting party soon in which I could write a review, and he was excited at the idea of having his sword at the party where it would be observed and handled by more people.
Full Disclosure
I received this sword from Lockwood Swords to do a review. I did not purchase this sword nor was this sword given to me. I'm not associated with Lockwood Swords and I'm not getting paid to do this review.
Initial Impressions
Cool....This sword came to me in a wooden box. When I opened the box, I saw a beautiful sword saftly secured. When I removed the sword out of the box, I could quickly tell this was a high end sword. The look, feel, craftsmanship, and the solid contruction that can be found on any of the other high end swords, was there. After I did some dry handling, the anticipation for using this piece during my upcoming cuting party was high.
Statistics
Overall Length: 44 3/8"
Blade Length: 34 1/2"
POB: 5"
COB: 22"
Weight: 2lb 15 3/8 oz
Distal Taper: The base of the guard: 5.09mm POB: 4.83mm COB: 3.61mm End of the fuller: 3.55mm 28": 3.24mm 30": 2.92mm 1" from the tip: 2.35mm Tip: 1.31mm
The Blade
The blade is a Type XIIa with a lenticular cross-section and a 24" fuller. The width of the blade start at 2" at the base and profile tapers to 1 5/16" at the end of the fuller and 1 1/16" an inch of the spatulate tip. The balde has a nice apple seed edge that is paper cutting sharp. The steel that Lockwood uses is 5160 and the blades are made from stock removal.
Grip
The grip is 7 5/8" long and 1 3/8" at it's widest. I really like this grip, it's got to be one of the most comfortable grips I have ever handled on a long sword. Its oval shape helps with edge alignment, and it also creates no hots spots on the hands when handling the sword.
Cross Guard
Stephan makes the molds of the cross guard and pommel and has them cast.
The cross guard is the bow-tie Oakeshott Style 5 that is 8 1/8" long. The edges of the cross are smoothed out so it doesn't dig into the hands after a lot of use.
Pommel
The pommel is a disc shape, Oakeshott Type G-ish. I call it a G-ish because as you can see in the pictue, it has more of a convex on it's faces than other Type G pommels, and the tickness distal tapers toward the end of the pommel at the peen. The edges have also been smoothed out like the cross guard. I like the look of this pommel. The idea of taking the time and smoothing out the edges of both the cross and pommel is important, as I have cut with other swords were the hilt parts weren't smoothed out, causing hots spots on the hand.
Handling
Cutting is the main strength for a Type XIIa and with a 5" POB. You can feel it in this sword, and yet it is lively in the hands and blade recovery is very good. I got to compare this sword with two other Type XIIa swords: the First Gen VA Practical Longsword and the VA Kreigschwert. The Lockwood sword was more lively than the other two, and made the VA PLS feel dead in the hands.
Cutting
The blade comes with a paper cutting edge, so cutting a bottle was no problem. Alas, with a sword that is only that sharp, I needed to put a little more power in to my cuts when cutting double rolled beach mats.
Pros
Apple seed edge
Comfortable grip
Lively blade
Solid construction
Cons
Spatulate tip (Type XII's should have a more pointed tip)
Would like the edge sharper. ( This is a problem with most if not all Euro swords on the market.)
Looks to be a little problem with QC at the hilt casting. In one of the pictures it shows the cross open where the sword goes through a little messy.
Conclusions
Lockwood Swords is a new sword company, and the main question that every one is asking "Do you get the bang for your buck?" I would say yes. During the cutting party, the sword was compared with other swords from the high end sword market, in looks, construction, and handling. Therefore, I would recommend this sword for its performance and durability.
Type XIIa
www.lockwood-swords.com/index.php?route=common/home
Introduction
Lockwood Swords is a new sword manufacturer on the market. On one of the Facebook sword groups, Stephan Lockwood , who owns and makes the swords, was asking if anyone wanted to review one of them, and to send him a cutting video. I sent him just that, and mentioned previous reviews that I had written on different swords in the past. As luck would have it, I was hosting a cutting party soon in which I could write a review, and he was excited at the idea of having his sword at the party where it would be observed and handled by more people.
Full Disclosure
I received this sword from Lockwood Swords to do a review. I did not purchase this sword nor was this sword given to me. I'm not associated with Lockwood Swords and I'm not getting paid to do this review.
Initial Impressions
Cool....This sword came to me in a wooden box. When I opened the box, I saw a beautiful sword saftly secured. When I removed the sword out of the box, I could quickly tell this was a high end sword. The look, feel, craftsmanship, and the solid contruction that can be found on any of the other high end swords, was there. After I did some dry handling, the anticipation for using this piece during my upcoming cuting party was high.
Statistics
Overall Length: 44 3/8"
Blade Length: 34 1/2"
POB: 5"
COB: 22"
Weight: 2lb 15 3/8 oz
Distal Taper: The base of the guard: 5.09mm POB: 4.83mm COB: 3.61mm End of the fuller: 3.55mm 28": 3.24mm 30": 2.92mm 1" from the tip: 2.35mm Tip: 1.31mm
The Blade
The blade is a Type XIIa with a lenticular cross-section and a 24" fuller. The width of the blade start at 2" at the base and profile tapers to 1 5/16" at the end of the fuller and 1 1/16" an inch of the spatulate tip. The balde has a nice apple seed edge that is paper cutting sharp. The steel that Lockwood uses is 5160 and the blades are made from stock removal.
Grip
The grip is 7 5/8" long and 1 3/8" at it's widest. I really like this grip, it's got to be one of the most comfortable grips I have ever handled on a long sword. Its oval shape helps with edge alignment, and it also creates no hots spots on the hands when handling the sword.
Cross Guard
Stephan makes the molds of the cross guard and pommel and has them cast.
The cross guard is the bow-tie Oakeshott Style 5 that is 8 1/8" long. The edges of the cross are smoothed out so it doesn't dig into the hands after a lot of use.
Pommel
The pommel is a disc shape, Oakeshott Type G-ish. I call it a G-ish because as you can see in the pictue, it has more of a convex on it's faces than other Type G pommels, and the tickness distal tapers toward the end of the pommel at the peen. The edges have also been smoothed out like the cross guard. I like the look of this pommel. The idea of taking the time and smoothing out the edges of both the cross and pommel is important, as I have cut with other swords were the hilt parts weren't smoothed out, causing hots spots on the hand.
Handling
Cutting is the main strength for a Type XIIa and with a 5" POB. You can feel it in this sword, and yet it is lively in the hands and blade recovery is very good. I got to compare this sword with two other Type XIIa swords: the First Gen VA Practical Longsword and the VA Kreigschwert. The Lockwood sword was more lively than the other two, and made the VA PLS feel dead in the hands.
Cutting
The blade comes with a paper cutting edge, so cutting a bottle was no problem. Alas, with a sword that is only that sharp, I needed to put a little more power in to my cuts when cutting double rolled beach mats.
Pros
Apple seed edge
Comfortable grip
Lively blade
Solid construction
Cons
Spatulate tip (Type XII's should have a more pointed tip)
Would like the edge sharper. ( This is a problem with most if not all Euro swords on the market.)
Looks to be a little problem with QC at the hilt casting. In one of the pictures it shows the cross open where the sword goes through a little messy.
Conclusions
Lockwood Swords is a new sword company, and the main question that every one is asking "Do you get the bang for your buck?" I would say yes. During the cutting party, the sword was compared with other swords from the high end sword market, in looks, construction, and handling. Therefore, I would recommend this sword for its performance and durability.