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Post by Zwilnik on Jun 27, 2020 17:37:55 GMT
I got the 14th century longsword. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=BR102&name=Balaur+Arms+%2D+14th+Century+LongswordI really, really loved their 15th century arming sword, so I pulled the trigger on the longsword. Got it today, and I'm more than a little disappointed. The design of the crossguard keeps the sword from going fully into the scabbard, there are some significant scuff marks at the base of the blade near the hilt, and holy moly is it bendy. I know swords, longswords, too, were supposed to flex and bounce back to true, but this thing is like a wet noodle. I can barely wave it back and forth and the blade bends like crazy. This isn't my first real sword, or longsword blade, and none of them are this whippy/bendy/flexy. I haven't cut anything with it, I haven't altered it in any way, shape, form, or fashion, I just rubbed the shipping grease off. I hope KoA will accept the return for an in-store credit towards another sword. Perhaps the Balaur Italian longsword. Youtube user "space duck" did a video review of his Italian longsword and it looked sturdier.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Jun 27, 2020 18:08:22 GMT
That's a bummer.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Jun 27, 2020 18:40:37 GMT
Sounds like you got a "munitions" grade sword.
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Post by kloborgg on Jun 27, 2020 19:13:07 GMT
Strange, I got the 2nd quality version of this sword and while I agree with your criticism of the guard, mine isn't bendy or overly flexible at all. Sounds like bad luck, sorry, hope KoA helps you out
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Post by nddave on Jun 27, 2020 19:19:11 GMT
Yea that seems a little to whippy even compared to mine. I have the 13th century version with the better guard. The 14th century one just looked funny to me. With the hollow grind I'm sure the 15th century Longsword is much sturdier and with have a similar feel and profile to your arming sword.
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Post by Zwilnik on Jun 27, 2020 19:53:25 GMT
I have to work tonight but I’m going to contact KoA tomorrow to see about paying the shipping costs to get a replacement. I think I’ll go with the Italian long sword because I’ve seen space duck’s videos of it and it doesn’t seem too whippy.
After I wrote the original OP, I held it again and when I swung it lightly I definitely heard something make a ping or ding sound where the hilt meets the cross guard.
I doubt I’ll hear back from them until Monday or later. I’m just going to wrap it back up the way it came and hope they’ll let me exchange it. I don’t mind paying the shipping costs or the extra remaining balance.
Edit: do they do exchanges for sharpened swords? I’ll guess I can ask them in the email, but maybe one of you would know the answer right now.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Jun 27, 2020 21:13:11 GMT
I have to work tonight but I’m going to contact KoA tomorrow to see about paying the shipping costs to get a replacement. I think I’ll go with the Italian long sword because I’ve seen space duck’s videos of it and it doesn’t seem too whippy. After I wrote the original OP, I held it again and when I swung it lightly I definitely heard something make a ping or ding sound where the hilt meets the cross guard. I doubt I’ll hear back from them until Monday or later. I’m just going to wrap it back up the way it came and hope they’ll let me exchange it. I don’t mind paying the shipping costs or the extra remaining balance. Edit: do they do exchanges for sharpened swords? I’ll guess I can ask them in the email, but maybe one of you would know the answer right now. Skip the emails. I found that I can get much better service by using the telephone. Simply explain to them the reasons why the sword does not meet your needs (without getting mad or accusing or otherwise being a jerk) and you'll be surprised what a company will do to help you out. I also don't think it will be a problem to return a sword that they themselves sharpened. After all, they are going to resell it at a discount rate for "munitions" grade, pre-sharpened OR they will destroy it and write it off as junk. But call them, not email- who knows, they may even make you an even exchange for something similar.
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Post by Zwilnik on Jun 27, 2020 21:24:46 GMT
Thanks for the advice. I’ll take it and give them a call on Monday. I know they’re famous for their customer service. I hate jerks, politeness is always good 100% of the time. I have to work tonight but I’m going to contact KoA tomorrow to see about paying the shipping costs to get a replacement. I think I’ll go with the Italian long sword because I’ve seen space duck’s videos of it and it doesn’t seem too whippy. After I wrote the original OP, I held it again and when I swung it lightly I definitely heard something make a ping or ding sound where the hilt meets the cross guard. I doubt I’ll hear back from them until Monday or later. I’m just going to wrap it back up the way it came and hope they’ll let me exchange it. I don’t mind paying the shipping costs or the extra remaining balance. Edit: do they do exchanges for sharpened swords? I’ll guess I can ask them in the email, but maybe one of you would know the answer right now. Skip the emails. I found that I can get much better service by using the telephone. Simply explain to them the reasons why the sword does not meet your needs (without getting mad or accusing or otherwise being a jerk) and you'll be surprised what a company will do to help you out. I also don't think it will be a problem to return a sword that they themselves sharpened. After all, they are going to resell it at a discount rate for "munitions" grade, pre-sharpened OR they will destroy it and write it off as junk. But call them, not email- who knows, they may even make you an even exchange for something similar.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Jun 27, 2020 22:24:43 GMT
"Courtesy costs nothing "
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Post by Zwilnik on Jun 29, 2020 18:22:49 GMT
I called and left a voicemail, then I went ahead and sent them an email. Here is the text of it. Could you guys read it and tell me if I was polite enough? I hate being a whiner. Here is the email text I sent:
"Hi! My name is Billy Heaning. I recently made three purchases from you. The first two were amazing and mind blowing. The third and most recent is the Balaur Arms 14th century longsword (BR102). Order # 18450808.
While I love the hilt and finishes on the sword, the blade itself is scaring me. When I held it the very first thing I noticed was how bendy/whippy the blade was. It's 5160 spring steel so I knew it had some flex to it, but I had no idea how bendy/flexy/whippy the blade was going to be. If I barely wave it along the line of the flats, it wobbles and flops back and forth like crazy. I can also bend it 45 degrees with barely any effort, and while it does snap back to true, just holding it feels unnatural and wrong. I'm terrified to touch anything to it for fear or it bending and waving so easily. I can even hold the sword straight out and the blade bends down over its own weight. I did a bunch of research online and checked out SBG forum and r/swords and I have a feeling it's an attribute of the steel that I wasn't aware of, but most importantly I don't feel safe using it at all. The only way I could make effective cuts is if I had perfect edge alignment every time, and I'm not there yet. Mainly I want to emphasize I do not feel safe holding it.
Would it be possible to make an exchange for the Italian longsword instead (BR104)? It's also 5160 but it has a hollow ground diamond cross section with a spine, which I'm hoping will make the blade stiffer. I've watched some user videos online doing cut tests with it and I can't see any serious wobbling, flexing, or bending during their tests. I am aware now of the properties of 5160, and I'm hoping against hope maybe we can do an exchange.
I''m 100% willing to pay for the return shipping and the remaining balance of the Italian longsword since it's about $50 more expensive than the 14th century longsword (BR102). I don't mind paying the S&H and the extra balance at all.
I've done nothing to the sword at all. I took it out of the box and wiped the shipping grease off. As soon as I held it I knew something was a little off. Of course I swung it around, but I didn't cut anything yet -- it's still exactly the way it came to me. I still have the box and the paper it was sent in. I noticed there were some scuff marks and epoxy stains near the base of the blade, but those are simply cosmetic and I could polish them up and clean them up nice and good, but I decided to leave it completely alone until I heard back from you. I put it back in the scabbard and put it back in the box and haven't touched it since it arrived.
I hate being "that guy", since I've been so mind-blowingly pleased by KoA. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. There is a UPS store only a few miles from here and I have today and tomorrow off if I have to stop by there. Thank you!
Billy"
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jun 29, 2020 19:08:25 GMT
Sounds very polite to me. I’d be surprised if they didn’t do some kind of exchange with you. I’ve haven’t bought from them but everything I’ve read about them is fantastic.
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Jun 29, 2020 20:38:51 GMT
Sounds very polite and I've bought many things from them and only had one slight problem, they fixed it up pronto. I don't see any issues of getting a exchange.
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Post by Zwilnik on Jun 30, 2020 3:16:22 GMT
Hey everybody! Talked to them today and they were incredibly helpful and assisted with my return/exchange. I sent back the 14th century longsword and will get the Italian longsword instead. Here is my video of the flexibility: .
While watching, keep in mind I'm still learning, and 5160 spring steel has attributes I wasn't anticipating. Also, no, the sword didn't get hurt, LOL, and at some point the sticker from my kiwi fruit landed onto my pajama pants. I rolled outta bed and then made the video, so forgive me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 4:16:32 GMT
It does seem like a floppy noodle. As far as safely flexing blades if you feel the need, do not bend them over your head and try grounding the point and pushing. This will let the blade flex in a less forced manner. Alternately, and this is something I have changed to when examining 18th and 19th century swords. Grab the blade at the point and use your thumb as a fulcrum. Let the weight of the sword judge the flex. An extreme here with a blade that is wafer thin at the foible. In this case, my index finger as the fulcrum. That is the weight of the sword bending the blade. An additional truth is that pushing flex repeatedly will stress the blade and to an extreme, start a cycle of steel piling or simply breaking. I have used that poor Horster above enough times as a demo that I probably won't go that far anymore. Continuing such stress would eventually just snap it. At any rate, letting the sword decide where it wants to flex. Pushing against the point similarly. Don't stick the point in wood if worried, use a book or something. I appreciate how dismal the purchase might have felt. Imo, after this one, step it up a bit with better known evaluated swords. Happy hunting. GC
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Post by Zwilnik on Jul 1, 2020 1:19:56 GMT
Awesome, thank you for the advice. KoA very graciously allowed me to do a return/exchange. It does seem like a floppy noodle. As far as safely flexing blades if you feel the need, do not bend them over your head and try grounding the point and pushing. This will let the blade flex in a less forced manner. Alternately, and this is something I have changed to when examining 18th and 19th century swords. Grab the blade at the point and use your thumb as a fulcrum. Let the weight of the sword judge the flex. An extreme here with a blade that is wafer thin at the foible. In this case, my index finger as the fulcrum. That is the weight of the sword bending the blade. An additional truth is that pushing flex repeatedly will stress the blade and to an extreme, start a cycle of steel piling or simply breaking. I have used that poor Horster above enough times as a demo that I probably won't go that far anymore. Continuing such stress would eventually just snap it. At any rate, letting the sword decide where it wants to flex. Pushing against the point similarly. Don't stick the point in wood if worried, use a book or something. I appreciate how dismal the purchase might have felt. Imo, after this one, step it up a bit with better known evaluated swords. Happy hunting. GC
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Post by nddave on Jul 1, 2020 2:34:50 GMT
Plan on getting a video or two up soon and one of them will be on my 13th century Balaur longsword. I go into pretty decent depth with my review videos and I'll give you a nice "noodle test" to see how they compare lol.
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Post by Zwilnik on Jul 7, 2020 17:29:34 GMT
Plan on getting a video or two up soon and one of them will be on my 13th century Balaur longsword. I go into pretty decent depth with my review videos and I'll give you a nice "noodle test" to see how they compare lol. What is your channel called again?
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Post by nddave on Jul 7, 2020 17:50:52 GMT
Plan on getting a video or two up soon and one of them will be on my 13th century Balaur longsword. I go into pretty decent depth with my review videos and I'll give you a nice "noodle test" to see how they compare lol. What is your channel called again? Dynamo Sword Channel www.youtube.com/channel/UC3lTO_LPjQueB7AnPTYEr4w
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Post by tsmspace on Jul 8, 2020 3:20:47 GMT
Strange, I got the 2nd quality version of this sword and while I agree with your criticism of the guard, mine isn't bendy or overly flexible at all. Sounds like bad luck, sorry, hope KoA helps you out the blades are different shapes. I have the 2nds quality 12th century, and I have a modified longsword blade I hilted myself, the blades SHOULD be different shapes, but the flexiness is quite different between the two.
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