CF409 Valiant Armoury Signature Knights Templar Sword
Feb 9, 2018 1:13:43 GMT
Post by Wes Cameron on Feb 9, 2018 1:13:43 GMT
Hello, I thought I would do a review of the CF409 Valiant Armoury Signature Knights Templar sword as my intro being that I am a new member.
I bought this sword in 2011 from Reliks in Canada for $589.99. The box came with some punctures and the styrofoam was broken and the sword loose in the box, so it was treated pretty rough – most likely Canada Post out east, but luckily the sword was not damaged.
The blade had some scuffs which was remedied with metal polish (Autosol). The pommel had some machining markings on it which for the most part was fixed by sanding and Autosol. Renaissance wax was applied to the blade, furniture and leather.
I used 18K gold gilding in the inlay of the pommel’s Templar Cross. I got the idea after seeing an antique Templar’s sword that was pulled from the Thames river. It had a gold cross in the pommel. The article said brass, but it was not tarnished so my personal opinion was that it was gold.
Reliks stated the sword was designed by Christian Fletcher and Gus Trim, and features a hand forged carbon 1060 spring steel blade
Specifics
Type: X11a (late 12th to mid 14th centuries)
Overall length: 45"
Blade Length: 36'' with a central fuller running from the guard to 3/4 of the blade.
Blade Width at hilt: 1 3/4''
Blade Thickness: site says 5.7 to 3.6 mm. The blade is not whippy
Tang: is well constructed and solid
Cross guard width: 7 1/2'' type 2 hexagon
Grip: 7" wood, leather wrapped with fine ribbing and a thicker rib at the centre (no stitching),
hand dyed antique brown
Pommel: type J, 1 3/4'' round, 1 1/4'' thick at the base, with a Templar’s Cross embedded on both sides. Secured to the handle by a hex nut
POB: 6" from the bottom of the guard
Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz (site stat, but feels like it)
Edge: apple seed sharp
Fitting: everything is solid, blade fits into the hilt and is pretty much even on each side of the flat, the sides of the blade fit flush with the guard
Scabbard: wood covered by leather antiqued brown and has the Templar cross embossed along the front of the scabbard, and a steel tip at the end
Belt: a double strap suspension system and belt, designed to be easily adjusted whether on foot or on horseback. The belt, straps and leather attachments to the scabbard are done in tan colour, with a simple Templar’s Cross in a circle.
Impressions: This is a great sword. Well made, handles well. I wear size 10 gloves and both my hands fit on the handle comfortably. The blade is sharp and cuts well. Not historically accurate in some things such as the hex nut, but this doesn't matter to me.
Pros: Sharp, well balanced for handling, constructed well and is solid. Weight is reasonable for a double handed sword imo. Very nice leather grip, scabbard and belt.
Cons: had scuffs and machining marks (all scuffs were able to be removed and most of the pommel machining marks). There was little contrast between the pommel and the Templar's Cross inlay on the pommel. Perhaps some would like this, but I changed it with 18k gold gilding to suit my taste and to bring it in line with one found in the river Thames.
Neither Pro nor Con: the hex nut can come a little loose after a number of cuttings, but is easily tightened to make the sword solid again. The plus of the hex nut is it allows the sword to be dismantled for cleaning and polishing.
I bought this sword in 2011 from Reliks in Canada for $589.99. The box came with some punctures and the styrofoam was broken and the sword loose in the box, so it was treated pretty rough – most likely Canada Post out east, but luckily the sword was not damaged.
The blade had some scuffs which was remedied with metal polish (Autosol). The pommel had some machining markings on it which for the most part was fixed by sanding and Autosol. Renaissance wax was applied to the blade, furniture and leather.
I used 18K gold gilding in the inlay of the pommel’s Templar Cross. I got the idea after seeing an antique Templar’s sword that was pulled from the Thames river. It had a gold cross in the pommel. The article said brass, but it was not tarnished so my personal opinion was that it was gold.
Reliks stated the sword was designed by Christian Fletcher and Gus Trim, and features a hand forged carbon 1060 spring steel blade
Specifics
Type: X11a (late 12th to mid 14th centuries)
Overall length: 45"
Blade Length: 36'' with a central fuller running from the guard to 3/4 of the blade.
Blade Width at hilt: 1 3/4''
Blade Thickness: site says 5.7 to 3.6 mm. The blade is not whippy
Tang: is well constructed and solid
Cross guard width: 7 1/2'' type 2 hexagon
Grip: 7" wood, leather wrapped with fine ribbing and a thicker rib at the centre (no stitching),
hand dyed antique brown
Pommel: type J, 1 3/4'' round, 1 1/4'' thick at the base, with a Templar’s Cross embedded on both sides. Secured to the handle by a hex nut
POB: 6" from the bottom of the guard
Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz (site stat, but feels like it)
Edge: apple seed sharp
Fitting: everything is solid, blade fits into the hilt and is pretty much even on each side of the flat, the sides of the blade fit flush with the guard
Scabbard: wood covered by leather antiqued brown and has the Templar cross embossed along the front of the scabbard, and a steel tip at the end
Belt: a double strap suspension system and belt, designed to be easily adjusted whether on foot or on horseback. The belt, straps and leather attachments to the scabbard are done in tan colour, with a simple Templar’s Cross in a circle.
Impressions: This is a great sword. Well made, handles well. I wear size 10 gloves and both my hands fit on the handle comfortably. The blade is sharp and cuts well. Not historically accurate in some things such as the hex nut, but this doesn't matter to me.
Pros: Sharp, well balanced for handling, constructed well and is solid. Weight is reasonable for a double handed sword imo. Very nice leather grip, scabbard and belt.
Cons: had scuffs and machining marks (all scuffs were able to be removed and most of the pommel machining marks). There was little contrast between the pommel and the Templar's Cross inlay on the pommel. Perhaps some would like this, but I changed it with 18k gold gilding to suit my taste and to bring it in line with one found in the river Thames.
Neither Pro nor Con: the hex nut can come a little loose after a number of cuttings, but is easily tightened to make the sword solid again. The plus of the hex nut is it allows the sword to be dismantled for cleaning and polishing.