Post by Ifrit on Aug 22, 2019 22:53:52 GMT
I finally stopped procrastinating, but honestly, it was a good thing I took so long, as it gave me a very thorough observation of this product.
I will not be following any of the templates used to an exact replica of it, as I am a mobile user, and can do not want to bother having to look back and forth. Instead, I'll review this from a martial perspective.
The blade: the 5160 spring steel blade is very sharp, very pointy, quite thick, yet hallow ground. Beautifully polished, beautifully symmetrical, and capable of chopping through even heavier targets such as saplings, while also just as capable of thrusting through them. The strong leaf blade shape enables both shearing slashes and massive chops. The wicked point and heavier weight would punch through most things, I'm willing to bet. The end goes all the way up to the point, giving it an almost diamond like shape, so it is not only acute, but also reinforced for heavy targets. This sword is not flexible at all. With its heavy central ridge, I don't think I would know how to flex it without hurting myself and I am unwilling to test it
The hilt:
the guard is beautiful to look at, with its darkened finish and stylistic hilt that guards the hand well. It is not as wide as I intended, but I prefer this. It was meant to be used with a shield anyway.
The handle itself is a cord wrapped hard wood with a metal spacer. It is oval shaped, and just a tad bit wide, which is fine with me, as I find wider grips comfortable. It is well shaped for edge alignment control and very comfortable.
The pommel is very nice as well, a stylistic "moon" shape, a homage to the Irish Goddess Danu. It's quite thick and does a fantastic job of balancing the weapon. It appears to be screwed on, all the way through the solid pommel, and then peened on the end. I don't think I have ever seen this sort of construction before but it is very solid.
The whole hilt is very tightly fitted to the blade, symmetrical, and does not rattle or move at all. Wonderful job. You can tell this was meant to be a working tool
The scabbard:
The scabbard is built with a nice hard wood, and is quite thick. It is very sturdy. I love the end cap and the metal on the scabbard throat as well, done very true to my original design
The designs are also beautiful and pop out of the scabbard well.
This is my only complaint about the whole thing: the scabbard paint. It is very fragile and tends to flake off easily. Perhaps I'm just rough with my stuff, but I've lost a great deal of finish on it.
Now, from a martial perspective, I was initially intimidated at its weight. If used with a huge shield, Roman style, it would have no problems, and might even be aided in the thrust, but for I. 33, I wasn't confident as it was a bit sluggish to move.
But I learned that the fualt was not in the sword, but in myself. I was weak and lacked the proper muscles needed.
After training, it does not at all feel sluggish and it's weight even aids in push cuts, allowing the sword to do the work for you. And the thrusts are deadly. As Doug from forged in fire would say: this will keeeeel
A lighter sword might rely on body mechanics and the body's core momentum for push and draw cuts, but this sword will allow these movements to shine brightly
Sorry if the review suck's. But this is the best I can do. I do not have a scale and am not sure where my measuring tape is
It's what I've always wanted in a sword.
I will not be following any of the templates used to an exact replica of it, as I am a mobile user, and can do not want to bother having to look back and forth. Instead, I'll review this from a martial perspective.
The blade: the 5160 spring steel blade is very sharp, very pointy, quite thick, yet hallow ground. Beautifully polished, beautifully symmetrical, and capable of chopping through even heavier targets such as saplings, while also just as capable of thrusting through them. The strong leaf blade shape enables both shearing slashes and massive chops. The wicked point and heavier weight would punch through most things, I'm willing to bet. The end goes all the way up to the point, giving it an almost diamond like shape, so it is not only acute, but also reinforced for heavy targets. This sword is not flexible at all. With its heavy central ridge, I don't think I would know how to flex it without hurting myself and I am unwilling to test it
The hilt:
the guard is beautiful to look at, with its darkened finish and stylistic hilt that guards the hand well. It is not as wide as I intended, but I prefer this. It was meant to be used with a shield anyway.
The handle itself is a cord wrapped hard wood with a metal spacer. It is oval shaped, and just a tad bit wide, which is fine with me, as I find wider grips comfortable. It is well shaped for edge alignment control and very comfortable.
The pommel is very nice as well, a stylistic "moon" shape, a homage to the Irish Goddess Danu. It's quite thick and does a fantastic job of balancing the weapon. It appears to be screwed on, all the way through the solid pommel, and then peened on the end. I don't think I have ever seen this sort of construction before but it is very solid.
The whole hilt is very tightly fitted to the blade, symmetrical, and does not rattle or move at all. Wonderful job. You can tell this was meant to be a working tool
The scabbard:
The scabbard is built with a nice hard wood, and is quite thick. It is very sturdy. I love the end cap and the metal on the scabbard throat as well, done very true to my original design
The designs are also beautiful and pop out of the scabbard well.
This is my only complaint about the whole thing: the scabbard paint. It is very fragile and tends to flake off easily. Perhaps I'm just rough with my stuff, but I've lost a great deal of finish on it.
Now, from a martial perspective, I was initially intimidated at its weight. If used with a huge shield, Roman style, it would have no problems, and might even be aided in the thrust, but for I. 33, I wasn't confident as it was a bit sluggish to move.
But I learned that the fualt was not in the sword, but in myself. I was weak and lacked the proper muscles needed.
After training, it does not at all feel sluggish and it's weight even aids in push cuts, allowing the sword to do the work for you. And the thrusts are deadly. As Doug from forged in fire would say: this will keeeeel
A lighter sword might rely on body mechanics and the body's core momentum for push and draw cuts, but this sword will allow these movements to shine brightly
Sorry if the review suck's. But this is the best I can do. I do not have a scale and am not sure where my measuring tape is
It's what I've always wanted in a sword.