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Post by illustry on May 21, 2019 0:17:53 GMT
This sword had been in stock on A&A's website for months, but I kept talking myself out of spending the money... til now. Statistics
Weight is 2lb 8oz. Point of balance is 3 1/8". Grip 4". Insanely fast and lethal sword. Stiff blade, as it should be for a type XV. Distal taper thickness measurements: 6.1mm at base 5.9mm at balance point 5.2mm at mid-blade 3.7mm 4" from tip 2.4mm 1" from tip
Initial Impressions
This has what you expect for hand-made imperfections, but is very well done. By this I mean the lines don't look milled by a CNC but rather done by the human eye. I like this "organic" feel and construction that seems to be typical of A&A. Have seen a lot of comments about sloppy guard slots by A&A. On this sword, what may appear as sloppy at first is actually squared off, refined and fairly symmetrical. Very few pitting marks on pommel - have only noticed one very small one. Arrived very sharp and the edge geometry is nice and consistent, with a barely visible secondary bevel of maybe .5mm that could easily be blended. Pickle-chipped a milk jug right out of the box, with little effort. Thrust is effortless, as you'd expect. Brown leather grip, like a broken-in glove. Guard is well aligned with blade and pommel alignment is dead-on perfect.
After a few weeks of ownership with some additional cutting: it cuts like you would expect a thick-bladed sword to. Alignment must be spot on, and it will cut well all along the blade, including tip. Such a fun thruster, though: you can practically walk through your targets.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 4:54:25 GMT
Very cool. A handy little XV and one of the least expensive of the swords. I had (off and on and off again) a composite of bronze Urbino fittings with an Edward III blade. I have considered getting one of these catalog examples, or even another Edward Urbino mix. Keep in mind that unless specified, the square peen block is actually a threaded nut. It is a 5/16"x18 thread and plenty strong. The only issue I have had with my examples is that on my Black Prince, the keyed pommel was bottoming on the tang and would not tighten up by the compression of the threaded method. Another A&A I no longer own, that sword was converted to a straight peen (as was a further modified Edbino). Of three Swords I had/have from them, only one had a clean slot and the Black Prince cleaned up in a few file strokes the first time I had that one apart. The Standard Urbino does really seem like a handy single hander. Bronze used to be an option but I don't know if they will still do it. Both that and my now absent Black Prince are snazzy as all get out in bronze.
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Post by Siward on May 21, 2019 8:59:35 GMT
Great review, I think A&A are top smiths unfortunately not appreciated/bought as much as others.
Love that bronze look Edelweiss, beautiful.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 9:49:46 GMT
All shined up and peened. I had always let them go less glossy but the new caretakers keep them bright.
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Post by illustry on May 21, 2019 14:24:40 GMT
Love that Edbino, Edelweiss. Up until now there have been so few photos of the Urbino. Your photos come up the vast majority of the time I searched... fittings-wise at least. That's mostly what compelled me to post this little review, so that we could get some photos up. Really have wanted a single hander XV for some time, but all the blades were way too flexible, or just didn't interest me.
I was aware of the threaded/peen block assembly and I actually see that as a positive. On mine, the end is very clean looking and does not seem to be peened over at all, so it probably will be no trouble to back if off if I wanted to take it down. I think this is a good feature, because I love taking things apart. No doubts about strength. I see the threaded nut as a similar assembly to a Gus Trim, but with a more historical appearance of the "pseudo" peen block.
And I completely agree that A&A have become under-appreciated. This one is a fantastic work, especially for under 700.
Couple things I forgot to mention: handling - it absolutely floats in the hand, which I'm sure you can imagine. The grip length of 4" is perfect - they've changed that length as in the past I believe A&A used 4.5".
Thanks for reading and for the comments!
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