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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 20, 2018 16:12:41 GMT
Okay, just came across this Irish Ring Sword that the price seems to be too good to be true. 52 inches long, 42 inch hand forged high carbon EN-45 spring steel blade. Has anyone here had any experience with this sword ? Any pictures of the tang ? At $116 it's about half the price a Legacy Arms Irish Sword. www.strongblade.com/prod/sba-irishtwohander.html
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2018 19:53:03 GMT
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stormmaster
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I like viking/migration era swords
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Post by stormmaster on Dec 20, 2018 20:25:53 GMT
i've never had experience with this particular sword but i have with strongblade itself, they are like 85% as good as windlass, i think their sword forge is actually pretty close to the same place windlass gets their stuff from and then they get shipped to them so they are like a smaller version of mrl, u can expect a mediocre piece that should look good
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Dec 20, 2018 21:19:47 GMT
"Mediocre sword with good polish" describes the strongblade sword I have. Tang might be a little thin and don't expect good taper and handling, but it can cut bottles.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Dec 20, 2018 21:21:24 GMT
The engraving service is great. I was able to put a full sentence down the Fuller in just the right font.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 21, 2018 16:19:46 GMT
I have a lot of great swords for serious cutting or possible fighting. I'm pretty much looking at this to hang on the wall with my Hanwei Claymore, Lowlander and DSA Braveheart, on the BIG SWORD wall. I also like the idea it will be easy to take apart because I want to blacken the guard and pommel ring and reshape the grip and cover it in green leather. I emailed them asking for a picture of the tang and they said they would take one and send it to me. I don't expect it to be real beefy, as long as it's not a welded on rattail tang.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Dec 21, 2018 19:40:26 GMT
I think you would like it, then. They have real tangs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 5:26:11 GMT
Certainly on the G2 and apparent in pictures of this one, the tang is a slim rod, vs a keyed tang ala A&A, Albion, ATrim, etc.
I would have first replied with "there is no such thing as a free lunch" but if you are happy spending the minimum and hoping for the best, who am I to deny someone experiencing a potential diamond in the rough. Or, spending on what will be disappointing in the end.
Even the high end reproductions aren't really my market interests but I can point to other's experiences in spending. I have quit, pretty much, and not buying much at all but if tempted for a reproduction, I would do my best to spend wisely.
Hey, I'm all over wallhangers and just bought something from Franklin Mint (not a sword)
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 22, 2018 15:08:50 GMT
Well unfortunately companies like Albion are quickly moving beyond the price range of a lot of collectors. So are others like Valiant Armory lately. Wouldn't we all like to own nothing but Albion quality swords but it's not the way it is. I'm lucky I got four Albion sword when they were still affordable and you didn't have to wait a year or two to get one. I don't want to receive my order a day after I'm on the wrong side of the dirt. We sometimes seem to forget this forum was originally here for the $300 or less collectors.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 15:27:47 GMT
Well unfortunately companies like Albion are quickly moving beyond the price range of a lot of collectors. So are others like Valiant Armory lately. Wouldn't we all like to own nothing but Albion quality swords but it's not the way it is. I'm lucky I got four Albion sword when they were still affordable and you didn't have to wait a year or two to get one. I don't want to receive my order a day after I'm on the wrong side of the dirt. We sometimes seem to forget this forum was originally here for the $300 or less collectors. My post in no way demands you buy a less available, or more expensive sword. I posted to point out the construction of the pieces and indeed embraced your right to buy on the cheap, or what you may find attractive and available. Indeed, I did point out there was no need to underline that there is no free lunch, as SBG does cater to less expensive swords. It really was to just point out that junk may just be junk but that I buy the stuff myself. There is no need to justify a purchase if you have already made up your mind. If not, you might want to read some of the search results I posted in my first reply. Or not. My latest wall hangers total more than $3000. That doesn't mean $300 won't get someone to the same plane of nirvana.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 22, 2018 15:52:30 GMT
I read most of the links you posted and appreciate it, but didn't see one for this sword. I was hoping someone here had this exact model to give me any advice on it. So tell me which is better, having a $3000 wall hanger or having a $116 wall hanger and $2884 in my pocket. I don't think my wall will know the difference. With a little work you can turn a plain Jane into a thing of beauty. Swords aren't my only interest, I have four Iron Horses in my stable so that extra money can now be used elsewhere.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Dec 22, 2018 17:28:11 GMT
For a display piece to fill in a hole on your wall I think it will fill the bill. But personally I would not buy a Strongblade product with the idea of serious use or high quality show piece, but for what you intend I think it'll work.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 19:26:45 GMT
I read most of the links you posted and appreciate it, but didn't see one for this sword. I was hoping someone here had this exact model to give me any advice on it. So tell me which is better, having a $3000 wall hanger or having a $116 wall hanger and $2884 in my pocket. I don't think my wall will know the difference. With a little work you can turn a plain Jane into a thing of beauty. Swords aren't my only interest, I have four Iron Horses in my stable so that extra money can now be used elsewhere. Again, you seem to be missing the point. The reason to offer the Strongblade links was to give any a sense of their worth. The construction methods to make you aware and my own analogies of free lunch and worth in allowing anyone to spend how they care to. I am not advising anyone how to spend their money, simply pointing out that decorators are decorators. Some hundreds of years old and with truly historic context. I also pointed out you might indeed find a diamond in the rough. Certainly a bargain at a third or less of the cost of a Darksword. Deepeeka sells a number of ring pommel swords as well. There are Deepeeka reviews out there. My own idea of a score is finding antiques at half (or less) normal street prices. Yes, I own a couple of four figure antiques. Two, to be exact. Most of my dozens of antiques less expensive than a lot of Darksword examples and my last 160 year old buy less than $116. I don't see $116 as disposable money, so even that amount something I consider and weigh against other interests. I'm sure you've spent that much on scooter grips, or at least considered costs. Have I spent $1100 for a wallhanger? Yes and it's a couple of hundred years old. Did I spend three grand this year on wallhangers? Actually closer to $3300 for three swords. One at $110 shipped. Another, quite modern and closer to Darksword pricing. Truly a wallhanger dha but almost 50" of it and maybe 60 or so years old. The Walloon at nearly four hundred years old, a one time deal for me and while I was able to. Have I spent hundreds of dollars on a single knife? Yes. Four figures for a knife? No. So I hope I have outlined my own limits a little bit. Of my 200 plus year old swords, some are in the mid three figure range and often DS, Valiant or Del Tin pricing with many more in the Windlass and Hanwei price range for military antiques instead of reproductions. My most expensive reproduction comes in at $425 plus $100 for a leather scabbard when I bought my second hand A&A German Bastard I also paid about exactly that for my A&A Black Prince brand new, back when we were all a good bit younger. It is true that SBG was once founded on the sub $300 possibilities while flipping the bird at other forums and individuals. Since then, most that had been snubbed as snobs have been here for a dozen years and you will find the same diversity but with more and more realizing the true worth of dollars spent. The Franklin Mint item I just bought is a non firing firearm. I have also spent $15 apiece for a couple of obscure ceramic tankards made in Japan. One person's junk, another's treasure
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Dec 22, 2018 19:35:11 GMT
Pictures of the tankards please!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 20:20:58 GMT
Pictures of the tankards please! Nothing fancy. Just a favorite coffee mug I used for forty years and when it fell earlier this year was just like a flower pot falling from a window sill. Having found one a few months ago, I recently bought another as a back up. A sibling, gone years ago was labeled Le Fleur. They were second hand to me, those decades ago. Hefty pint size but my perfect coffee dram. No doubt, I will buy yet more of them if I spot them.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Dec 22, 2018 20:25:56 GMT
Aaaaaah, I see white foam of very dark sweet beer brimming over!
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 22, 2018 21:10:41 GMT
Never had a sword from this maker but considered one a few years ago. I have a few sub-300 dollar swords I really like for different reasons. I realize this forum was founded to seek out decent quality swords in the 300 and below category. To be honest, except for the eBay stuff, there is not much out there that has not been out there for a long time. Every so often, something new will pop up but that is the exception in the sub-300 range. Prices are always going up which is normal for most everything. I sort of look at budget swords now being in the sub-600 range new unless you want to buy on the secondary market. Still a few decent ones under 300 but mostly the same ones that have been around.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Jan 3, 2019 16:13:10 GMT
Well I ordered the sword so a review will be coming. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and take a chance. Not expecting an Albion but if it's close to a Windlass or Hanwei and for the price I'll be happy. I even ordered it with some engraving to see how good that is. First change will be a regrip with green leather and a Celtic knot grip divider ring.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 3, 2019 16:23:24 GMT
Will be looking forward to your review. Good luck.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Jan 4, 2019 17:34:12 GMT
Well I can say one thing for them, they're fast. I ordered the sword with three engravings on it and they shipped two days later. Now lets see if they forgot to do the engravings.
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