VA Craftsman Series 'The Crusader Sword'
Jul 11, 2018 1:50:24 GMT
Post by Wes Cameron on Jul 11, 2018 1:50:24 GMT
Preamble:
This will be an in-depth review as far as I am able to, given that I do not have an accurate weigh scale and do not have a thickness gauge.
First and importantly there were problems with the sword I received.
The Problems (see photos below):
The sword had what looked like stain (from the substance use to stain the grip?) and what looked like rust on the guard and pommel. From the grip, one side of the guard was worse than the other, and the pommel had it on both sides and around parts of it’s circumference.
I tested the substance for removal and was able to carefully remove some of it from part of the guard and pommel just to see how well it removed and the condition of the underneath steel. On the guard there was micro pitting of the metal on the place where I removed the substance (and probably rust). On other parts once removed there remained a darker stain on the guard and pommel. On a lesser note, the fuller has fine horizontal machining marks instead of matching the sanding/polishing vertical ones of the blade (although I think I am beginning to like this as it adds contrast between the blade and fuller). The pommel had vertical machining marks, and the scabbard has a couple of indentations, a scar and the rain flap on one side has separated. I will be able to repair the rain flap but not the rest. The sword is not sharp enough to slice paper (it was supposed to come sharp). To take off the substance I had to mask off the sword grip, and when I removed the masking tape it had also removed a lot of the stain, so I had to re-stain the grip.
Edit: The fullers last two inches was not shaped properly which was pointed out to me by another member. I thought it was the lighting in the photo, but this was not so on closer examination of the sword... in his words they were 'wonky' and indeed they were upon closer examination. I had worked to take the horizontal grind marks in the fullers out and then had taken a photo and they looked okay, so I guess I had reshaped that part of the fullers during sanding. They still need a little more work though.
Luckily I was able to correct all the issues with the guard, pommel and re-staining the grip after about 10 hours of working on it using sandpaper of ascending grits (400 to 3000) and metal polish. For the grip I had to mix two colours of calligraphy ink to get the antiqued brown that it had, then add a layer of Renaissance Wax and polish it to give it a sheen.
What I do not understand is the lack of quality control at every step of the way ie. how could the fullers have been acceptable at the final grind, and how could the sword have been sent out with rust on it? How was this all missed or was it?
Review of Craftsman Series Edition of The Crusader Sword from Valiant Armoury:
Type: X11 (late 12th to mid 14th centuries)
Specifications from the Valiant Armoury Site:
This Sword has an Overall Length: 37 1/2 inches
Sword Blade Length: 31 inch
Sword Handle Length: 4 1/2 inch
Sword Blade Material: Hand made 6150 High Carbon Spring Steel Sword
Blade Width at Guard: 1 3/4"
Sword Weight 2 lbs. 6 oz.
Sword Center of Gravity 5"
The Scabbard and suspension package is made with the finest top grain leather
and is some of the finest found on any semi custom medieval sword.
Specifications of the Sword I received (photos below):
Overall length: 37 1/4"
Blade Length: 31” with a central fuller
Blade Width at hilt: 1 7/8"
Blade Shape: moderate taper fitting it’s classification
Cross guard width: 7 9/16" type 2 hexagon
Grip: 4.5", wood, leather wrapped with fine ribbing, dyed antique brown. Fits nicely into the hand
Pommel: type J, 1 7/8" x 1 5/8" round, with a Templar’s Cross embedded on both sides.
Peened.
POB: 5.5" from the bottom of the guard
Weight: 2 lbs 6 oz (site stat, but feels like it to me)
Edge: not sharp (was supposed to be)
Fitting: everything is solid, blade fits into the hilt and is even
on each side of the flat where it inserts into the guard
Scabbard: wood, covered by leather antiqued brown. Has three imperfections - two indentations side by side, rain flap has unglued on one side (still have to repair), and a scar (occurred to animal in life most likely). I don’t care for the two indentations. The scar I am on the fence about; on the one hand it should not be there when the site says made from fine leather, but on the other hand I’m beginning to think it adds character to the scabbard. Blade fits into the scabbard perfectly and is held solidly.
Belt: Lighter brown colour than the scabbard to provide contrast. Decent buckle.
Impressions:
Nice looking sword, solid and handles well. Decent enough scabbard but could/should have been better. Belt is made well and looks good.
Pros:
The sword handles well and is of solid feel when handling. The Crusader by VA is a very nice looking sword (after the above mentioned problems were fixed - see photos below).
Cons:
See Preamble at top.
This will be an in-depth review as far as I am able to, given that I do not have an accurate weigh scale and do not have a thickness gauge.
First and importantly there were problems with the sword I received.
The Problems (see photos below):
The sword had what looked like stain (from the substance use to stain the grip?) and what looked like rust on the guard and pommel. From the grip, one side of the guard was worse than the other, and the pommel had it on both sides and around parts of it’s circumference.
I tested the substance for removal and was able to carefully remove some of it from part of the guard and pommel just to see how well it removed and the condition of the underneath steel. On the guard there was micro pitting of the metal on the place where I removed the substance (and probably rust). On other parts once removed there remained a darker stain on the guard and pommel. On a lesser note, the fuller has fine horizontal machining marks instead of matching the sanding/polishing vertical ones of the blade (although I think I am beginning to like this as it adds contrast between the blade and fuller). The pommel had vertical machining marks, and the scabbard has a couple of indentations, a scar and the rain flap on one side has separated. I will be able to repair the rain flap but not the rest. The sword is not sharp enough to slice paper (it was supposed to come sharp). To take off the substance I had to mask off the sword grip, and when I removed the masking tape it had also removed a lot of the stain, so I had to re-stain the grip.
Edit: The fullers last two inches was not shaped properly which was pointed out to me by another member. I thought it was the lighting in the photo, but this was not so on closer examination of the sword... in his words they were 'wonky' and indeed they were upon closer examination. I had worked to take the horizontal grind marks in the fullers out and then had taken a photo and they looked okay, so I guess I had reshaped that part of the fullers during sanding. They still need a little more work though.
Luckily I was able to correct all the issues with the guard, pommel and re-staining the grip after about 10 hours of working on it using sandpaper of ascending grits (400 to 3000) and metal polish. For the grip I had to mix two colours of calligraphy ink to get the antiqued brown that it had, then add a layer of Renaissance Wax and polish it to give it a sheen.
What I do not understand is the lack of quality control at every step of the way ie. how could the fullers have been acceptable at the final grind, and how could the sword have been sent out with rust on it? How was this all missed or was it?
Review of Craftsman Series Edition of The Crusader Sword from Valiant Armoury:
Type: X11 (late 12th to mid 14th centuries)
Specifications from the Valiant Armoury Site:
This Sword has an Overall Length: 37 1/2 inches
Sword Blade Length: 31 inch
Sword Handle Length: 4 1/2 inch
Sword Blade Material: Hand made 6150 High Carbon Spring Steel Sword
Blade Width at Guard: 1 3/4"
Sword Weight 2 lbs. 6 oz.
Sword Center of Gravity 5"
The Scabbard and suspension package is made with the finest top grain leather
and is some of the finest found on any semi custom medieval sword.
Specifications of the Sword I received (photos below):
Overall length: 37 1/4"
Blade Length: 31” with a central fuller
Blade Width at hilt: 1 7/8"
Blade Shape: moderate taper fitting it’s classification
Cross guard width: 7 9/16" type 2 hexagon
Grip: 4.5", wood, leather wrapped with fine ribbing, dyed antique brown. Fits nicely into the hand
Pommel: type J, 1 7/8" x 1 5/8" round, with a Templar’s Cross embedded on both sides.
Peened.
POB: 5.5" from the bottom of the guard
Weight: 2 lbs 6 oz (site stat, but feels like it to me)
Edge: not sharp (was supposed to be)
Fitting: everything is solid, blade fits into the hilt and is even
on each side of the flat where it inserts into the guard
Scabbard: wood, covered by leather antiqued brown. Has three imperfections - two indentations side by side, rain flap has unglued on one side (still have to repair), and a scar (occurred to animal in life most likely). I don’t care for the two indentations. The scar I am on the fence about; on the one hand it should not be there when the site says made from fine leather, but on the other hand I’m beginning to think it adds character to the scabbard. Blade fits into the scabbard perfectly and is held solidly.
Belt: Lighter brown colour than the scabbard to provide contrast. Decent buckle.
Impressions:
Nice looking sword, solid and handles well. Decent enough scabbard but could/should have been better. Belt is made well and looks good.
Pros:
The sword handles well and is of solid feel when handling. The Crusader by VA is a very nice looking sword (after the above mentioned problems were fixed - see photos below).
Cons:
See Preamble at top.