TomKin Forge Feather Damascus Type XVIII Arming Sword
Dec 31, 2018 19:44:29 GMT
Post by Razor on Dec 31, 2018 19:44:29 GMT
TomKin Forge Feather Damascus Type XVIII Arming Sword
Review by Ray Harrington
Introduction
Watching Tom Kinder post pictures and videos on Facebook, as well as providing me with videos on Messenger of his progress while building this beautiful sword was amazing. When it was done, watching the videos of Tom cutting with the sword interested me, and was excited to handle and cut with it. So I was very happy when Tom mentioned he was sending the sword to my Nor-Cal sword gathering/cutting party. It started nine years ago and I have been hosting it for seven years now. After the cutting party was over, Tom asked if I would do a review, which I am honored to do so.
Full Disclosure
This sword was sent for the sword cutting party, and I was asked to do a review before the goes sword back. I do not work for TomKin Forge, nor did I get paid to do this review. Tom and I are friends and we have known each other since the early day of SBG Forum.
Initial Impressions
As you can see in the picture, the sword arrived safe and sound. My first impression after taking the sword out of the box, was this piece of artwork is beautiful. It really is a beautiful sword, and Tom did a fantastic job. I started to do some dry cuts with the sword,and noticed it handled batter than it looks. I could not wait to cut with it.
Statistics
Over All Length: 37"
Blade Length: 30 1/2"
Handle Lenght: 4 1/2"
Weight: 1lbs 15oz
POB: 5 1/2"
COP: 19 5/8"
Distal Taper: At the Guard: .165"(4.19mm), POB: .154"(3.91mm), COP: .127"(3.22mm), 5" from tip: .098"(2.48mm) 4" from tip: .104(2.64mm), 2 1/2" .111"(2.81mm), 3/4" .120"(3.04mm), The tip: .013"(.33mm)
The Blade
This blade is a Type XVIII, which is a cut and thrust sword that was widely used around 1410 to 1510 in Medieval Europe. The Type XVIII, has a broad base blade(2"-2 1/2") of flatten or hollow ground diamond section, and the edges taper in a graceful curve to a sharp point. This slightly convex curves improves on the cutting capacity by having a wider blade on the COP.
The steel that was used on Tom's sword to make the feather damascus pattern was 1084 and 15n20. The base is 2 1/6" , tapers to 1 7/16" at the COP, and is 1 1/32" 6" from the tip were the harmonic sweet spot starts. The blade has been throughly hardened at 58-59 HRC on the edges and point. Plus, it's been selectively tempered to 50-52 on the center spine, tang, and shoulders. This gives the blade excellent edge retention and extreme toughness. The harmonic sweet spot on this hair shaving sharp blade, starts 6" behind the point and is over a foot long. The tip is reinforced to help protect the point when thrusting into hard material.
Cross Guard
The sword has a style 2 guard, as it's straight guard is waisted and flares back to its original width at the ends. The guard is 6 7/8" long, 3/8" thick, 1/2" wide, and made with the same steel but with a twisted W's Damascus pattern. The corners have be cut off giving the rectangular guard a more octagonal shape.
Handle
The handle is made with poplar wood that is covered with cotton cord and goat leather. The grip is 4 1/2" long, with a width at 1 1/8" at the guard which swells to 1 1/2", tapering down to 1" at the pommel, and the thickest part of the grip is at the swell which is .824".
Pommel
The Type K is a disc pommel that is wide and flat with a raised smaller inner disc. This one is made with the same steel but with a explosion damascus pattern. The disc pommel is 1 63/64" wide, the edge is .319", and the thickest part at the raised inner disc .832". As you can see in the pictures, the pommel has been peened.
Test Cutting/ Handling
This sword is agile, responsive and handles amazingly well. I have no problem with winding, redirecting my cuts, or moving from guard to guard. It works great while using 15th century sword and buckler sources, like Hans Talhoffer, Paulus Kal, Andres Lignitzer, and with the earlier 1:33.
Here is a picture at the cutting party.
The sword was very popular at the gathering. It was used through out the day cutting verious targets like mats, bottles, milk jugs, and pupmkins without any problems. Here are two videos of the sword effortlessly cutting a Mugen Dachi mat and a pupmkin with it.
After the cutting party, I got to play with the sword a little more before I made this video. I used Mugen Dachi mats, a pineapple, a milk jug, and a Lord of Battle gambeson over pork ribs. On the pineapple and milk jug, I wanted to do some of the movements that is in Andres Lignitzer's Sword and Buckler Fourth Play. On 1:20 I go into the bind with a Mittelhau and from the bind I do a Zwerchhau with the long edge. On 1:24 I'm in the bind with the long edge Zwerchhau, and from the bind I do a Zwerchhau with the short edge. On 1:27 From the bind with the Mittelhau I perform Zwerchau on both side and then I end with a Scheitehau.
Conclusions
This sword is a functional piece of art and it was a real treat to be able to do a review on this sword. It was difficult sending the sword back. Tom has a strong understanding of how a sword should handle and perform, and I will defintitely be doing more business with him. If anybody is looking to have a custom made sword, I would highly recommend Tom Kinder.
Thank you for reading my review.
Ray Harrington
Review by Ray Harrington
Introduction
Watching Tom Kinder post pictures and videos on Facebook, as well as providing me with videos on Messenger of his progress while building this beautiful sword was amazing. When it was done, watching the videos of Tom cutting with the sword interested me, and was excited to handle and cut with it. So I was very happy when Tom mentioned he was sending the sword to my Nor-Cal sword gathering/cutting party. It started nine years ago and I have been hosting it for seven years now. After the cutting party was over, Tom asked if I would do a review, which I am honored to do so.
Full Disclosure
This sword was sent for the sword cutting party, and I was asked to do a review before the goes sword back. I do not work for TomKin Forge, nor did I get paid to do this review. Tom and I are friends and we have known each other since the early day of SBG Forum.
Initial Impressions
As you can see in the picture, the sword arrived safe and sound. My first impression after taking the sword out of the box, was this piece of artwork is beautiful. It really is a beautiful sword, and Tom did a fantastic job. I started to do some dry cuts with the sword,and noticed it handled batter than it looks. I could not wait to cut with it.
Statistics
Over All Length: 37"
Blade Length: 30 1/2"
Handle Lenght: 4 1/2"
Weight: 1lbs 15oz
POB: 5 1/2"
COP: 19 5/8"
Distal Taper: At the Guard: .165"(4.19mm), POB: .154"(3.91mm), COP: .127"(3.22mm), 5" from tip: .098"(2.48mm) 4" from tip: .104(2.64mm), 2 1/2" .111"(2.81mm), 3/4" .120"(3.04mm), The tip: .013"(.33mm)
The Blade
This blade is a Type XVIII, which is a cut and thrust sword that was widely used around 1410 to 1510 in Medieval Europe. The Type XVIII, has a broad base blade(2"-2 1/2") of flatten or hollow ground diamond section, and the edges taper in a graceful curve to a sharp point. This slightly convex curves improves on the cutting capacity by having a wider blade on the COP.
The steel that was used on Tom's sword to make the feather damascus pattern was 1084 and 15n20. The base is 2 1/6" , tapers to 1 7/16" at the COP, and is 1 1/32" 6" from the tip were the harmonic sweet spot starts. The blade has been throughly hardened at 58-59 HRC on the edges and point. Plus, it's been selectively tempered to 50-52 on the center spine, tang, and shoulders. This gives the blade excellent edge retention and extreme toughness. The harmonic sweet spot on this hair shaving sharp blade, starts 6" behind the point and is over a foot long. The tip is reinforced to help protect the point when thrusting into hard material.
Cross Guard
The sword has a style 2 guard, as it's straight guard is waisted and flares back to its original width at the ends. The guard is 6 7/8" long, 3/8" thick, 1/2" wide, and made with the same steel but with a twisted W's Damascus pattern. The corners have be cut off giving the rectangular guard a more octagonal shape.
Handle
The handle is made with poplar wood that is covered with cotton cord and goat leather. The grip is 4 1/2" long, with a width at 1 1/8" at the guard which swells to 1 1/2", tapering down to 1" at the pommel, and the thickest part of the grip is at the swell which is .824".
Pommel
The Type K is a disc pommel that is wide and flat with a raised smaller inner disc. This one is made with the same steel but with a explosion damascus pattern. The disc pommel is 1 63/64" wide, the edge is .319", and the thickest part at the raised inner disc .832". As you can see in the pictures, the pommel has been peened.
Test Cutting/ Handling
This sword is agile, responsive and handles amazingly well. I have no problem with winding, redirecting my cuts, or moving from guard to guard. It works great while using 15th century sword and buckler sources, like Hans Talhoffer, Paulus Kal, Andres Lignitzer, and with the earlier 1:33.
Here is a picture at the cutting party.
The sword was very popular at the gathering. It was used through out the day cutting verious targets like mats, bottles, milk jugs, and pupmkins without any problems. Here are two videos of the sword effortlessly cutting a Mugen Dachi mat and a pupmkin with it.
After the cutting party, I got to play with the sword a little more before I made this video. I used Mugen Dachi mats, a pineapple, a milk jug, and a Lord of Battle gambeson over pork ribs. On the pineapple and milk jug, I wanted to do some of the movements that is in Andres Lignitzer's Sword and Buckler Fourth Play. On 1:20 I go into the bind with a Mittelhau and from the bind I do a Zwerchhau with the long edge. On 1:24 I'm in the bind with the long edge Zwerchhau, and from the bind I do a Zwerchhau with the short edge. On 1:27 From the bind with the Mittelhau I perform Zwerchau on both side and then I end with a Scheitehau.
Conclusions
This sword is a functional piece of art and it was a real treat to be able to do a review on this sword. It was difficult sending the sword back. Tom has a strong understanding of how a sword should handle and perform, and I will defintitely be doing more business with him. If anybody is looking to have a custom made sword, I would highly recommend Tom Kinder.
Thank you for reading my review.
Ray Harrington