Kingston Arms Atrim Type XIV review - and Kingston generally
Mar 18, 2020 20:18:19 GMT
Post by robcarter33 on Mar 18, 2020 20:18:19 GMT
Greetings,
This is my first post on these forums, but I’ll keep the introduction brief. I’ve been casually collecting swords (among a few other collecting hobbies) for about eight years. Lurking around on this forum has been instrumental in some of my purchase decisions. I’m not a martial artist (though I have been toying with the idea of joining the local HEMA group) and I’m not a backyard cutter, but I do attempt to seek out blades that mimic the appearance, function, and handling characteristics of historical pieces with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
This sword has been ably reviewed by others on this forum and on the web generally, including weaponmasters recent and excellent video review. I will review the sword as well, but I’d like to take a slightly different tack and explore where Kingston Arms fits into the sort-of modern reproduction sword hierarchy, and why I think it matters.
There are a lot of factors to consider when judging a historical reproduction sword – overall historical accuracy, design and quality of the fittings, blade steel, blade geometry, edge geometry, heat treatment, construction method (i.e. peened, hex-nut), fitment of parts, balance/handling, fit and finish, etc.
At the sub-$300 price point, where Windlass and Hanwei dominate the market for functional, reproduction swords, there are going to be some sacrifices. You generally get a solid blade made of quality steel with a good heat treatment, but the rest can be a bit of a grab bag. Historical accuracy is frequently sacrificed. Grip and scabbard materials may feel cheap, thin, and/or spongy. Distal taper may be lacking, and weight/balance/handling may be off in various ways. Some fit and finish issues are to be expected.
Take, as an example, my Windlass Christus Imperat. This sword has generally been pretty well received around the internet, including on this forum. And I agree that it’s a good sword that looks great and handles well. But mine, at least, still has some minor issues. The turk’s head knots on the wire-wrapped grip are pretty rough. There are small gaps in the wire wrap and I can see the grip core poking through on close inspection. The scabbard leaves a sticky/tacky black residue on the blade. The grip is not fully straight on the blade/tang and sits with a very slight twist. The acid etching on the blade is not particularly convincing. None of that is a deal-breaker considering that I only paid about $265 for the sword, but that’s the point. Personally, I would be happy to pay $50-$100 more for some additional quality control and better fit and finish.
This can be frustrating, because Windlass and Hanwei are obviously capable of making great swords. Hanwei sells some quite high-end Japanese stuff, which they finish well and sharpen very effectively. So why have the edges on all the Hanwei European swords I’ve owned been so terrible out of the box? It begs the question – what if Windlass or Hanwei took their considerable capacity and experience and decided to target a higher price point and release some higher-end European pieces?
Enter Kingston Arms. Kingston Arms is a product line of CAS Iberia, the U.S. distributor for Hanwei. Kingston Arms’ swords appear to be made at Hanwei’s Dalian forge (as evidenced by the tag that came hanging around the grip of my KA Atrim XIV). The Kingston Arms website describes itself as “premium” and touts historical accuracy, materials quality, and the involvement of Gus Trim in designing some of their offerings. MSRP for most of the sharps is listed around $450, with some higher-end Atrim-made pieces at $1000+. So I had to know, could Hanwei finally be trying its hand at making some higher-end European swords?
It was actually Kingston’s re-release of Hanwei’s renaissance sidesword that caught my eye (still looking for one of these btw) and drew my attention to the other Kingston swords. Since I had the sword buying itch in a major way, I bought the Kingston Atrim Type XIV and the Kingston Katzbalger (separate review coming later) from Kult of Athena for $328.95 and $259.95, respectively.
On to the sword…
Historical overview
Statistics (as measured by me)
Blade Steel: 9260 spring steel (per manufacturer’s specs)
Blade Length: 28.25”
Handle Length: 5.75”
Overall Length: 34.5”
Guard Width: 7”
POB (Point of Balance): roughly 5.25”
COP (Center of Percussion): roughly 17”
Weight: 2lbs, 1.25oz
Components
Continuing the theme with this sword, I think the overall scabbard is a noticeable step up from the typical Hanwei European offerings.
Handling Characteristics
This sword was designed by Gus Trim and it shows. The sword feels lightning fast and nearly weightless in the hand, while still managing to have the blade presence expected of a cut-and-thrust sword. The closest comparator I have on hand currently is my Windlass European sword, a model that has been praised here for its handling. The Windlass feels like a crude hunk of rebar next to the Kingston Atrim Type XIV. The Type XIV is a smaller, lighter sword, of course, but it’s hard to overstate just how lively the Kingston feels in the hand. The Atrim partnership has paid big dividends on this model.
Conclusions
So has Kingston upped the ante and extracted a truly “mid-tier” Euro offering from Hanwei’s Dalian forge? I think so. This sword is a complete package without caveats and asterisks in a way that most of Hanwei’s entry-level swords are not. I think it’s easily on par with the recent, improved Darksword products and lower-end Del Tins that tend to fill the roughly $500 price point. At the end of the day, this is a sub-$800 sword, so there are going to be some compromises. The thick secondary bevel is the most noticeable. But this sword doesn’t feel like it’s missing too much else.
In sum, I do think the Kingston Atrim Type XIV lives up to its $450 MSRP. The even better news is that, in the real world, this sword actually moves around the $300-$350 price point.
Kingston being so close makes any quality control issues (like my slightly misaligned crossguard) all the more frustrating. However, this sword feels like a screaming deal for the $328.95 I paid, and makes its flaws somewhat easier to accept.
Pros
- exceptional Atrim-designed handling
- high degree of historical accuracy
- generally well fit and finished
- grip and scabbard materials are a significant notch above the usual Hanwei offerings
Cons
- ever so slightly misaligned crossguard
- very prominent secondary bevel
The Bottom Line
This is a mid-tier sword for an entry-level price, with exceptional handling on top. If you’re in the market for a quintessential knightly arming sword, give it a look.
This is my first post on these forums, but I’ll keep the introduction brief. I’ve been casually collecting swords (among a few other collecting hobbies) for about eight years. Lurking around on this forum has been instrumental in some of my purchase decisions. I’m not a martial artist (though I have been toying with the idea of joining the local HEMA group) and I’m not a backyard cutter, but I do attempt to seek out blades that mimic the appearance, function, and handling characteristics of historical pieces with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
Introduction
There are a lot of factors to consider when judging a historical reproduction sword – overall historical accuracy, design and quality of the fittings, blade steel, blade geometry, edge geometry, heat treatment, construction method (i.e. peened, hex-nut), fitment of parts, balance/handling, fit and finish, etc.
At the sub-$300 price point, where Windlass and Hanwei dominate the market for functional, reproduction swords, there are going to be some sacrifices. You generally get a solid blade made of quality steel with a good heat treatment, but the rest can be a bit of a grab bag. Historical accuracy is frequently sacrificed. Grip and scabbard materials may feel cheap, thin, and/or spongy. Distal taper may be lacking, and weight/balance/handling may be off in various ways. Some fit and finish issues are to be expected.
Take, as an example, my Windlass Christus Imperat. This sword has generally been pretty well received around the internet, including on this forum. And I agree that it’s a good sword that looks great and handles well. But mine, at least, still has some minor issues. The turk’s head knots on the wire-wrapped grip are pretty rough. There are small gaps in the wire wrap and I can see the grip core poking through on close inspection. The scabbard leaves a sticky/tacky black residue on the blade. The grip is not fully straight on the blade/tang and sits with a very slight twist. The acid etching on the blade is not particularly convincing. None of that is a deal-breaker considering that I only paid about $265 for the sword, but that’s the point. Personally, I would be happy to pay $50-$100 more for some additional quality control and better fit and finish.
This can be frustrating, because Windlass and Hanwei are obviously capable of making great swords. Hanwei sells some quite high-end Japanese stuff, which they finish well and sharpen very effectively. So why have the edges on all the Hanwei European swords I’ve owned been so terrible out of the box? It begs the question – what if Windlass or Hanwei took their considerable capacity and experience and decided to target a higher price point and release some higher-end European pieces?
Enter Kingston Arms. Kingston Arms is a product line of CAS Iberia, the U.S. distributor for Hanwei. Kingston Arms’ swords appear to be made at Hanwei’s Dalian forge (as evidenced by the tag that came hanging around the grip of my KA Atrim XIV). The Kingston Arms website describes itself as “premium” and touts historical accuracy, materials quality, and the involvement of Gus Trim in designing some of their offerings. MSRP for most of the sharps is listed around $450, with some higher-end Atrim-made pieces at $1000+. So I had to know, could Hanwei finally be trying its hand at making some higher-end European swords?
It was actually Kingston’s re-release of Hanwei’s renaissance sidesword that caught my eye (still looking for one of these btw) and drew my attention to the other Kingston swords. Since I had the sword buying itch in a major way, I bought the Kingston Atrim Type XIV and the Kingston Katzbalger (separate review coming later) from Kult of Athena for $328.95 and $259.95, respectively.
On to the sword…
Historical overview
This is a sword with an Oakeshott type in its name, so the aim was clearly to make something historical. That’s no guarantee of historical accuracy, however, as manufacturers have certainly mislabeled swords in the past. Fortunately for Kingston, their Type XIV appears to be right on the money. The relatively short blade tapers strongly to point with a pronounced central spine near the point. A single fuller runs about 60% of length of the blade. While I don’t believe that the Kingston Atrim Type XIV is based on any specific historical sword, the design of the crossguard and pommel are consistent with those in use when the Type XIV was popular. All in all, the Kingston Atrim XIV looks the part for a late 13th to mid-14th century arming sword.
Statistics (as measured by me)
Blade Steel: 9260 spring steel (per manufacturer’s specs)
Blade Length: 28.25”
Handle Length: 5.75”
Overall Length: 34.5”
Guard Width: 7”
POB (Point of Balance): roughly 5.25”
COP (Center of Percussion): roughly 17”
Weight: 2lbs, 1.25oz
Components
The Blade
The blade, fuller, and central spine are straight and well executed. Looking down the blade reveals the characteristic slight “wavy” surface of a blade that was born from a hammer and anvil, which I love. The blade shows noticeable distal taper, but I don’t have the calipers to actually measure it. The blade sports a satin finish with no noticeable scratches, scuffs, or defects. The blade is quite stiff, as one would expect from the length and profile, but flexes and returns to true when force is applied. The point is nothing short of wicked – just staggeringly acute and sharp.
Some things are still going to give at this price point, however. The edge of this sword comes with a very pronounced secondary bevel. The secondary bevel is clean, even, and relatively well-executed, but I suspect that this sword would benefit tremendously (both aesthetically and functionally) from a good re-profiling. When I get a chance, I will re-profile the sword to an convex/appleseed edge using a slack belt grinder and will report back.
The Grip
The leather-wrapped handle sports a distinct cord-wrapped effect. Everything is tight, solid, and fits well. The leather is glued in place and not stitched. This is a noticeable step up from the unadorned and “spongy” leather wraps I’ve encountered on my previous Hanwei Euro pieces.
The Guard
The guard is stainless steel, which is a nice touch and keeps things low-maintenance. The guard fits tightly and there is no rattling or play.
Unfortunately, the guard on this sword is ever so slightly twisted in relation to the blade/tang. The slight twist means that there is a noticeably larger gap between the guard and blade on one side vs the other. The grip and pommel are in line with the blade, so I don’t think it would affect edge alignment in cutting.
Nonetheless, this is disappointing since everything else about this sword has been pretty much spot on. It’s not a big deal – sometimes parts fit tightest in an arrangement that isn’t aesthetically perfect, but it feels a little “Hanwei-ish” in a way I was hoping that Kingston would improve on.
The Pommel
The pommel is also stainless steel. The tang is peened, and the peen is very, very cleanly executed. Without the right lighting, it’s hardly noticeable at all. This is a very far cry from the rough peen on my Hanwei bastard sword and is consistent with a generally higher degree of fit and finish found on the Kingston product.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is leather-wrapped over a wood core. The leather feels thin but the color is attractive. The chape sports a little more design that those typically found on entry-level Hanwei offerings and appears to be made of mild steel. The throat is wrapped in a thicker piece of leather which is stitched at the back for a little touch of extra detail.
The swords rattles in the scabbard, but this doesn’t bother me. I tend to agree with Tod’s musings in this video that modern collectors might prefer tighter scabbards than their historical counterparts.
Continuing the theme with this sword, I think the overall scabbard is a noticeable step up from the typical Hanwei European offerings.
Handling Characteristics
This sword was designed by Gus Trim and it shows. The sword feels lightning fast and nearly weightless in the hand, while still managing to have the blade presence expected of a cut-and-thrust sword. The closest comparator I have on hand currently is my Windlass European sword, a model that has been praised here for its handling. The Windlass feels like a crude hunk of rebar next to the Kingston Atrim Type XIV. The Type XIV is a smaller, lighter sword, of course, but it’s hard to overstate just how lively the Kingston feels in the hand. The Atrim partnership has paid big dividends on this model.
Conclusions
So has Kingston upped the ante and extracted a truly “mid-tier” Euro offering from Hanwei’s Dalian forge? I think so. This sword is a complete package without caveats and asterisks in a way that most of Hanwei’s entry-level swords are not. I think it’s easily on par with the recent, improved Darksword products and lower-end Del Tins that tend to fill the roughly $500 price point. At the end of the day, this is a sub-$800 sword, so there are going to be some compromises. The thick secondary bevel is the most noticeable. But this sword doesn’t feel like it’s missing too much else.
In sum, I do think the Kingston Atrim Type XIV lives up to its $450 MSRP. The even better news is that, in the real world, this sword actually moves around the $300-$350 price point.
Kingston being so close makes any quality control issues (like my slightly misaligned crossguard) all the more frustrating. However, this sword feels like a screaming deal for the $328.95 I paid, and makes its flaws somewhat easier to accept.
Pros
- exceptional Atrim-designed handling
- high degree of historical accuracy
- generally well fit and finished
- grip and scabbard materials are a significant notch above the usual Hanwei offerings
Cons
- ever so slightly misaligned crossguard
- very prominent secondary bevel
The Bottom Line
This is a mid-tier sword for an entry-level price, with exceptional handling on top. If you’re in the market for a quintessential knightly arming sword, give it a look.