Mini-review: Devils Edge Damascus Qama & Cobra Steel Falcata
Jun 9, 2020 23:49:09 GMT
Post by Lord Cobol on Jun 9, 2020 23:49:09 GMT
TLDR: Nothing horrid about either. If you've been thinking of getting either, don't let me stop you.
Disclosure: No affiliations with vendor or makers. Paid normal Kult of Athena prices.
Why no pics: KoA has that covered and I can't improve on them.
Devil's Edge first, Falcata below.
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Devil's Edge - Damascus Qama / Kindjal:
Appearance: Yes, the folds are pretty in person, like the marketing pictures. Folds look medium-gray & almost-black; not dramatically darker than the KoA pics but much darker than the marketing pics for some other brands, like LKChen. If you look closely, not everything is exactly symmetrical. The central ridge is just slightly off center. The grip stays straight a bit farther down toward the pommel on one side.
Grip: Square with rounded edges. Seems ok, although I might have preferred oval or rounded rectangle. If you've read concerns about the knobs on the Windlass qama interfering with your grip, relax. The grip on this one is longer, there is about 3 3/4 inch clearance between the knobs and they are far enough out of the way so I can hammer-grip from either side without bumping into them. Since it is ultra-full tang (steel exposed on the side & back of the grip) you'll need to worry about rust there too, not just the blade.
Dimensions: Blade measures 16 7/8 inch, about 1/2 inch shorter than KoA says. There was less distal taper than I expected from the KoA specs "Thickness: 5.4 mm - 2.8 mm". There is almost no taper until the last 3 inches, about where the fuller ends. It doesn't get into the 2.8mm neighborhood until about 1 1/2 inch from the tip. I wish everyone would specify exactly where they were measuring from.
Weight: I don't have accurate scales, but subjectively it seems heavier than I expected compared to other things I have and the published weights. If I'm not imagining that, blame the modest taper for the extra weight.
Edge & Geometry: Needle point. Shallow diamond profile with "V" grind at the edge. On the "V" the folds don't show -- you see minor grind marks instead, but not nearly as bad as some machetes, like my old Cold Steels.
Sharpness: One side came paper-cutting sharp; the other was more paper-tearing (with copier/printer paper -- not thin stuff). The sharper side was the one a right-handed person would use if he gripped with the knobs away from his palm. That might not be coincidence? Maybe they paid more attention to the side they thought you'd use? But I'm a lefty. Sigh.
Cutting: Not tested. I bought it just to have an affordable example of pretty folded steel, and I intend to keep it pretty. No scratches! Humor me.
Sheath: Leather. I'm not sure if it might promote rust, so I don't plan to use it. Blade fits fine in the manmade-material sheaths for the Cold Steel Gladius Machete & Katana Machete (don't ask me how I know) and should probably fit some other machete sheaths. Amazon lists a sheath that might work.....
Historical Accuracy: Well maybe, except for the exposed ultra-full tang (??)
Conclusion: If you are looking for an affordable short sword with pretty folded steel, this may be the best show in town.
--------------------
Cobra Steel Falcata:
Appearance: Ok, like the marketing pics. No noticeable blemishes.
Grip: Hard rubber. Square with rounded edges. Seems ok, although I might have preferred oval or rounded rectangle.
Dimensions: Pretty much what KoA says. They say the grip is 4 inches. That's just the straight part - the curved part at the end brings it up to about 5 3/4. Not much distal taper.
Edge & Geometry: Shallow "V" grind over most of the blade width; steeper "V" with minor grind marks at the edge. Those marks are less visible than the marks on the Devil's Edge.
Sharpness: It slices copier paper. The first few inches near the tip were a bit better than where it curves inward past the widest part of the blade. I *guess* that part is harder to sharpen with whatever they use (??). I'd expect it to be hard to sharpen with my benchstones too. If I had a belt grinder this might be time to use it.
Cutting: So-so, but I have crap technique and am not really qualified to judge. I'd expect it to improve if I get ambitious and put a convex edge on it (??)
Sheath: Leather, but since blade is supposed to be stainless I'm not going to worry. Fits well.
Steel: X46Cr14 stainless per KoA. Cobra's web site says "X46Cr13 high grade stainless steel", but have you ever seen anything that isn't "high grade"? The numbers in the name mean 0.46% carbon and 13 (or 14) percent chromium. Wikipedia says "X46Cr13 is a basic steel without molybdenum, nitrogen or vanadium". For under $60 you don't get premium additives.
Historical Accuracy: Blade doesn't curve forward like the historical pics I've found. Grip doesn't curve around the hand. There weren't many rubber grips back in the day. But for the price....
Conclusion: Meets my expectations, but if you want to cut you'd better ask someone else. Might be good for sharpening practice when you are done with really cheap stuff but not ready to ruin anything pricey. Ignore old reviews because they probably aren't for the current stainless version.
--------------------
Why these swords: My interest in swords and cutting has (*gasp*) declined a lot over the past several years. Also I've spent a lot of time reading about and testing rust prevention, am tired of it, and am not fully satisfied with anything I have tested.
All the swords & machetes in the world now fit into just 3 groups (as far as I'm concerned, your mileage *WILL* vary).
1: Inexpensive pretty things that I can wax up and keep to display but not use.
2: Inexpensive LOW-MAINTENANCE, usable things (meaning stainless & "battle ready" from reputable companies).
3: Things I don't want.
The qama is for #1.
The Cobra Steel line are about the only things I know of that may fit #2. But I would have gotten their Lakonia or Kindjal if they had been in stock.
Disclosure: No affiliations with vendor or makers. Paid normal Kult of Athena prices.
Why no pics: KoA has that covered and I can't improve on them.
Devil's Edge first, Falcata below.
--------------------
Devil's Edge - Damascus Qama / Kindjal:
Appearance: Yes, the folds are pretty in person, like the marketing pictures. Folds look medium-gray & almost-black; not dramatically darker than the KoA pics but much darker than the marketing pics for some other brands, like LKChen. If you look closely, not everything is exactly symmetrical. The central ridge is just slightly off center. The grip stays straight a bit farther down toward the pommel on one side.
Grip: Square with rounded edges. Seems ok, although I might have preferred oval or rounded rectangle. If you've read concerns about the knobs on the Windlass qama interfering with your grip, relax. The grip on this one is longer, there is about 3 3/4 inch clearance between the knobs and they are far enough out of the way so I can hammer-grip from either side without bumping into them. Since it is ultra-full tang (steel exposed on the side & back of the grip) you'll need to worry about rust there too, not just the blade.
Dimensions: Blade measures 16 7/8 inch, about 1/2 inch shorter than KoA says. There was less distal taper than I expected from the KoA specs "Thickness: 5.4 mm - 2.8 mm". There is almost no taper until the last 3 inches, about where the fuller ends. It doesn't get into the 2.8mm neighborhood until about 1 1/2 inch from the tip. I wish everyone would specify exactly where they were measuring from.
Weight: I don't have accurate scales, but subjectively it seems heavier than I expected compared to other things I have and the published weights. If I'm not imagining that, blame the modest taper for the extra weight.
Edge & Geometry: Needle point. Shallow diamond profile with "V" grind at the edge. On the "V" the folds don't show -- you see minor grind marks instead, but not nearly as bad as some machetes, like my old Cold Steels.
Sharpness: One side came paper-cutting sharp; the other was more paper-tearing (with copier/printer paper -- not thin stuff). The sharper side was the one a right-handed person would use if he gripped with the knobs away from his palm. That might not be coincidence? Maybe they paid more attention to the side they thought you'd use? But I'm a lefty. Sigh.
Cutting: Not tested. I bought it just to have an affordable example of pretty folded steel, and I intend to keep it pretty. No scratches! Humor me.
Sheath: Leather. I'm not sure if it might promote rust, so I don't plan to use it. Blade fits fine in the manmade-material sheaths for the Cold Steel Gladius Machete & Katana Machete (don't ask me how I know) and should probably fit some other machete sheaths. Amazon lists a sheath that might work.....
Historical Accuracy: Well maybe, except for the exposed ultra-full tang (??)
Conclusion: If you are looking for an affordable short sword with pretty folded steel, this may be the best show in town.
--------------------
Cobra Steel Falcata:
Appearance: Ok, like the marketing pics. No noticeable blemishes.
Grip: Hard rubber. Square with rounded edges. Seems ok, although I might have preferred oval or rounded rectangle.
Dimensions: Pretty much what KoA says. They say the grip is 4 inches. That's just the straight part - the curved part at the end brings it up to about 5 3/4. Not much distal taper.
Edge & Geometry: Shallow "V" grind over most of the blade width; steeper "V" with minor grind marks at the edge. Those marks are less visible than the marks on the Devil's Edge.
Sharpness: It slices copier paper. The first few inches near the tip were a bit better than where it curves inward past the widest part of the blade. I *guess* that part is harder to sharpen with whatever they use (??). I'd expect it to be hard to sharpen with my benchstones too. If I had a belt grinder this might be time to use it.
Cutting: So-so, but I have crap technique and am not really qualified to judge. I'd expect it to improve if I get ambitious and put a convex edge on it (??)
Sheath: Leather, but since blade is supposed to be stainless I'm not going to worry. Fits well.
Steel: X46Cr14 stainless per KoA. Cobra's web site says "X46Cr13 high grade stainless steel", but have you ever seen anything that isn't "high grade"? The numbers in the name mean 0.46% carbon and 13 (or 14) percent chromium. Wikipedia says "X46Cr13 is a basic steel without molybdenum, nitrogen or vanadium". For under $60 you don't get premium additives.
Historical Accuracy: Blade doesn't curve forward like the historical pics I've found. Grip doesn't curve around the hand. There weren't many rubber grips back in the day. But for the price....
Conclusion: Meets my expectations, but if you want to cut you'd better ask someone else. Might be good for sharpening practice when you are done with really cheap stuff but not ready to ruin anything pricey. Ignore old reviews because they probably aren't for the current stainless version.
--------------------
Why these swords: My interest in swords and cutting has (*gasp*) declined a lot over the past several years. Also I've spent a lot of time reading about and testing rust prevention, am tired of it, and am not fully satisfied with anything I have tested.
All the swords & machetes in the world now fit into just 3 groups (as far as I'm concerned, your mileage *WILL* vary).
1: Inexpensive pretty things that I can wax up and keep to display but not use.
2: Inexpensive LOW-MAINTENANCE, usable things (meaning stainless & "battle ready" from reputable companies).
3: Things I don't want.
The qama is for #1.
The Cobra Steel line are about the only things I know of that may fit #2. But I would have gotten their Lakonia or Kindjal if they had been in stock.