Lockwood custom SL1014 Irish-ring XVIIIb longsword
Jul 25, 2020 21:37:40 GMT
Post by kloborgg on Jul 25, 2020 21:37:40 GMT
It's a long while since I posted a review, but given the relative lack of Stephan Lockwood sword reviews out there at the moment I thought I should share. I ordered this sword for my wife back in March, and we just received this a few days ago (July), which fits perfectly within the expected production time of ~4 months.
We've always been a big fan of Irish ring pommels (my wife having Irish ancestry), and we first looked at the SL1018 model, as well as VA's Irish longsword. However, I've also always been a big fan of long slender type XVIIIb swords with tapered grips (like the Munich), and the metal spacer on this model sealed the deal. I sent Stephan a quick email asking if I could pay a bit more to get a ring pommel on the 1014, and he graciously offered to switch these out free of charge. Altogether, with a scabbard, this order came out to about $1,650.
All in all, I can say I'm incredibly happy with what we got. I think the swapped pommel looks wonderful on the sword, better than I even pictured in my mind. The slightly-curved S-guard is tastefully done with deceptively complex geometry. I love the dramatically waisted grip with the spacer, and it fits great in the hand.
From the handful of reviews out there, it seemed that the consensus was that Lockwood swords rival Albion fit-and-finish quality, and overall I would echo that sentiment. Fair warning, since the swords are in a very similar price-point, I will be making pretty frequent comparisons with Albions throughout this review.
Everything feels completely solid, and the grip is very similar to an Albion grip in execution and style, with a nearly-invisible seam. Beyond that, there are three things I'm particularly impressed by:
1. The pommel seems to line up absolutely perfectly with the crossguard and blade. Even in Albion's I've handled, the pommel is often ever-so-slightly tilted in one direction or another, but this one really seems completely parallel.
2. The blade lines are very straight, even when held up to sunlight and examined at a shallow angle. I tried to get this across in the pictures. Being CNC'd, I pretty much expected this, but honestly I can't even detect any perceptible dips or waves most of the time. I dare say this might be better than the Albion blades I've examined.
3. The sharpness. This is not just 'passably' sharp, but full-on paper-cutting sharp. I would not want to run my finger along this blade. Not quite "razor" sharp, but not too far off, and with no secondary bevel to speak of.
As far as handling or performance go, I haven't yet cut anything, but as you might expect with this kind of thin blade, it's impressively maneuverable and quick. Were it not for the extra-long handle, you should certainly use this one-handed in a pinch. With two hands, it glides through the air and changes direction with ease. The blade is tempered 6150 steel for those who are interested, though this doesn't really mean too much to me; I trust that Stephan knows what he's doing and has picked good steel for the purpose. The finish is a clean machine-polished satin.
The scabbard is pretty much exactly what I wanted and expected. It very much resembles the VA scabbard I got about 8 years ago, which is to say it's very well made, pretty, and does what you'd need it too. I do almost feel like it's slightly too tight at the throat, but to be honest with a blade of this length you're not going to be performing quick draw cuts anyways. It easily holds the sword in place even while holding it upside down.
Despite my enthusiasm and praise, as with anything, the sword is not quite perfect. Foremost, I can say that the gap where the guard meets the blade is noticeably larger than in any Albion I've seen, and indeed larger than a lot of more budget, mid-range swords I've seen. There also seems to be a little bit of extra steel that was ground off on one side of the gap. Personally, this doesn't really bother me, though I do know this is important to a lot of people, so I do think it's worth mentioning. All this being said, there is an audible "ring" when tapping the steel of the guard, so I still don't believe this is likely to come loose with regular use.
Also, the peen is nicely done, but could be a bit cleaner I suppose.
Besides that ... I honestly struggle to find any real complaints. There are always things that could be executed even better, but not reasonably for this price range. I, like a lot of you, am a pretty huge Albion fanboy, and will definitely continue to collect their products, but I think it's fantastic that we have an option of comparable quality at roughly the same price-point, and Lockwood certainly has multiple advantages, including the option to bundle a scabbard, a significantly shorter wait time, and the ability to request personalized customization options (within reason). If you're in the market for a high-end production sword, I would absolutely recommend taking a look at Stephan's work, and if anything stands out to you, go for it. Thanks for your time!
Blade profile:
A look at the hilt - my favorite part of this sword:
Blade in hand - longer than any grip I've used before:
A bottom-up look. The peen is nice but could be cleaner, but I've very impressed with how well this pommel lines up with the guard:
One more close-up of the pommel. Apologies for all the pet hair, I promise I vacuumed right after taking these:
A look at the satin finish and maker's mark, very cleanly done:
Another attempt to display just how straight the lines are on this blade, almost no waviness to be seen:
A look at the gap in the guard - probably the biggest fault with the sword. Notice the bit on the left that's slightly wandered off:
A look at the scabbard. Functional, pretty, and a great fit:
The whole package. Very elegant and attractive, IMO:
We've always been a big fan of Irish ring pommels (my wife having Irish ancestry), and we first looked at the SL1018 model, as well as VA's Irish longsword. However, I've also always been a big fan of long slender type XVIIIb swords with tapered grips (like the Munich), and the metal spacer on this model sealed the deal. I sent Stephan a quick email asking if I could pay a bit more to get a ring pommel on the 1014, and he graciously offered to switch these out free of charge. Altogether, with a scabbard, this order came out to about $1,650.
All in all, I can say I'm incredibly happy with what we got. I think the swapped pommel looks wonderful on the sword, better than I even pictured in my mind. The slightly-curved S-guard is tastefully done with deceptively complex geometry. I love the dramatically waisted grip with the spacer, and it fits great in the hand.
From the handful of reviews out there, it seemed that the consensus was that Lockwood swords rival Albion fit-and-finish quality, and overall I would echo that sentiment. Fair warning, since the swords are in a very similar price-point, I will be making pretty frequent comparisons with Albions throughout this review.
Everything feels completely solid, and the grip is very similar to an Albion grip in execution and style, with a nearly-invisible seam. Beyond that, there are three things I'm particularly impressed by:
1. The pommel seems to line up absolutely perfectly with the crossguard and blade. Even in Albion's I've handled, the pommel is often ever-so-slightly tilted in one direction or another, but this one really seems completely parallel.
2. The blade lines are very straight, even when held up to sunlight and examined at a shallow angle. I tried to get this across in the pictures. Being CNC'd, I pretty much expected this, but honestly I can't even detect any perceptible dips or waves most of the time. I dare say this might be better than the Albion blades I've examined.
3. The sharpness. This is not just 'passably' sharp, but full-on paper-cutting sharp. I would not want to run my finger along this blade. Not quite "razor" sharp, but not too far off, and with no secondary bevel to speak of.
As far as handling or performance go, I haven't yet cut anything, but as you might expect with this kind of thin blade, it's impressively maneuverable and quick. Were it not for the extra-long handle, you should certainly use this one-handed in a pinch. With two hands, it glides through the air and changes direction with ease. The blade is tempered 6150 steel for those who are interested, though this doesn't really mean too much to me; I trust that Stephan knows what he's doing and has picked good steel for the purpose. The finish is a clean machine-polished satin.
The scabbard is pretty much exactly what I wanted and expected. It very much resembles the VA scabbard I got about 8 years ago, which is to say it's very well made, pretty, and does what you'd need it too. I do almost feel like it's slightly too tight at the throat, but to be honest with a blade of this length you're not going to be performing quick draw cuts anyways. It easily holds the sword in place even while holding it upside down.
Despite my enthusiasm and praise, as with anything, the sword is not quite perfect. Foremost, I can say that the gap where the guard meets the blade is noticeably larger than in any Albion I've seen, and indeed larger than a lot of more budget, mid-range swords I've seen. There also seems to be a little bit of extra steel that was ground off on one side of the gap. Personally, this doesn't really bother me, though I do know this is important to a lot of people, so I do think it's worth mentioning. All this being said, there is an audible "ring" when tapping the steel of the guard, so I still don't believe this is likely to come loose with regular use.
Also, the peen is nicely done, but could be a bit cleaner I suppose.
Besides that ... I honestly struggle to find any real complaints. There are always things that could be executed even better, but not reasonably for this price range. I, like a lot of you, am a pretty huge Albion fanboy, and will definitely continue to collect their products, but I think it's fantastic that we have an option of comparable quality at roughly the same price-point, and Lockwood certainly has multiple advantages, including the option to bundle a scabbard, a significantly shorter wait time, and the ability to request personalized customization options (within reason). If you're in the market for a high-end production sword, I would absolutely recommend taking a look at Stephan's work, and if anything stands out to you, go for it. Thanks for your time!
Blade profile:
A look at the hilt - my favorite part of this sword:
Blade in hand - longer than any grip I've used before:
A bottom-up look. The peen is nice but could be cleaner, but I've very impressed with how well this pommel lines up with the guard:
One more close-up of the pommel. Apologies for all the pet hair, I promise I vacuumed right after taking these:
A look at the satin finish and maker's mark, very cleanly done:
Another attempt to display just how straight the lines are on this blade, almost no waviness to be seen:
A look at the gap in the guard - probably the biggest fault with the sword. Notice the bit on the left that's slightly wandered off:
A look at the scabbard. Functional, pretty, and a great fit:
The whole package. Very elegant and attractive, IMO: