pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Mar 14, 2019 18:34:48 GMT
Yes, thanks for the review. This thread and others made me take a closer look at this type of sword. I just bought an antique Ames NCO and antique Horstmann musician, really looking forward to taking delivery and playing with them! Congratulations on your two new purchases and I hope they prove to be all that you had hoped for.
|
|
|
Post by viece on Mar 14, 2019 22:20:53 GMT
Thanks! As lots of folks here on the boards know, I prefer modestly priced beat-up antiques, so they'll be full of character if nothing else.
|
|
|
Post by viece on Mar 24, 2019 16:32:05 GMT
pgandy, now I see what a fun, smallswordy weapon the NCO is! Just got my antique 1863 Ames NCO and it feels great in the hand. This particular one was evidently polished a lot and lightly nickel-plated, probably for Grand Army of the Republic parades. Anyway, thanks again for your review and for indirectly causing me to go get this! Attachments:
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Mar 24, 2019 16:52:41 GMT
pgandy, now I see what a fun, smallswordy weapon the NCO is! Just got my antique 1863 Ames NCO and it feels great in the hand. This particular one was evidently polished a lot and lightly nickel-plated, probably for Grand Army of the Republic parades. Anyway, thanks again for your review and for indirectly causing me to go get this! I am glad that you received you M1840 and that you are happy with it. As for mine, to my surprise, it has moved to the top of my list joining my XIV and Klewang Cutlass as favourite and in many respects has those beat, but the jury is still out. It is less fatiguing than my rapier, has more reach than either my XIV or cutlass, and is fast. My only regret is that it took me so long to decide to order. But then if I hadn’t waited I would have ended up with a steel scabbard. It's just a fun little sword.
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Mar 30, 2019 19:09:53 GMT
Just an update as the M1840 gives up more of its secrets. Comparing thrusts with my rapier I get tighter groups with more accuracy with the M1840. This stands to reason considering the M1840 has a 31½” blade to the rapier a 38”. It’s simple trigonometry. Let’s say for example I have a ½° error in my wrist, this will give less variation at the tip of the shorter blade. I found that my CS 24” HDSC to give even tighter groups. And yes, I need more practice in this area which I am working on. The rapier’s groupings are in the top target. This morning I tied balloons to a cord and suspended them comparing the M1840 and rapier. I was expecting for the most part for them to be brushed aside with both swords. We would use similar targets with our firearms and broke fewer balloons than expected as many times the bullets would just push the balloons aside leaving a gray streak, some balloons would have multiple streaks. That appeared to be the case with the rapier, but the M1840 was popping them routinely. I can’t explain this as the rapier’s point is more acute and feels sharp to the touch. Both will completely penetrate a water filled plastic litre Colgate Plax bottle. However the rapier will frequently after going through the lead side rotate the bottle and exit through the side. The M1840 will go straight through.
|
|
|
Post by roybread on May 21, 2020 23:55:29 GMT
There's one of these up on Ebay right now for 58$. Would've gotten it were I in the US, despite it not being my type of sword.
|
|