Post by Lionhardt on Jul 1, 2021 4:54:39 GMT
I have always been a huge Zorro fan and specifically to the swords used, I love the one from the Antonio Banderas movies. Just a beautiful unique take on the sword. I immediately bought the UC version when it first came out, and I have since bought a quite functional version that I do not know who made! But it came fitted with a full size rapier blade rather than the shorter blade classic to the Zorro sword. So I always keep my eyes open for other functional versions.
So I finally ran across Jesse Belsky's Zorro sword and knew I needed it. It was nearly identical to the movie sword and was quite functional, boasting a modified h/t blade and a forged hilt.
I heard good things about his swords so thought I would give it a shot. At $1,150 for the sword and scabbard, it was expensive but manageable, and appropriate IF it lived up to the expectations.
When I received the sword, initially I was quite pleased. Until I took it apart... Something I like about his designs is that almost all of them are designed to be taken apart for easy maintenance and blade replacement. But as soon as I took it apart I saw how quite loose his tolerances were for every part of the hilt. It had a 5 piece construction; blade, guard, handle, handle guard, and threaded pommel.
Now, to me, with a $1,000+ sword I expect quite right tolerances between such pieces. To me every piece of that hilt construction should be extremely tight on it's own, not relying on another part to make it tight. That is what I was taught is correct construction for any well made sword. And then the pommel just keeps it all together, but doesn't really have to be super tight. That is how I do my swords and what I expect from any sword over the ~$300-$600 price range. I put the sword back together and cranked on the pommel attempting to get it tight enough so nothing moved. But no matter how tight you made the pommel, the hilt still had movement due to the loose tolerances.
I immediately contacted him and politely expressed my concerns. I was hoping to hear that was unusual and should not be the case. Instead I was told that is how they are, and to just tighten it more.... So I again politely expressed that that should not be and asked what we can do to fix it. Sure I can add epoxy inside the handle and put some weld on the loose steel parts to make them as tight as they should be, but that is what I do with $300 swords, not $1000 swords. So I was hoping he would offer to redo it with tighter fittings. No, he just told me to return it and he would refund me.
So I wanted to ask the pro's here. Who has dealt with him and his swords? And regardless, am I crazy in expecting a $1,000+ sword to be quite tight?! Or am I founded in that expectation? Because he sure was shocked I was displeased with the tolerances.
If you pay VA or Albion $1,000 for a sword you get insanely tight tolerances. So that is what I expect of ANYthing in that range. What this was, more closely resembled what I see on $300 mass produced Pakistan swords... Sure the material was nice, but the construction was quite poor. And it wasn't even a one-off blade!, it was just a h/t! So where was the value in that?! Where did he get charging $1,150 for that?!
So I wanted to put that out there and get some thoughts.
My apologies for the lack of pictures. I packed it up quickly before leaving for a month-long deployment to Arizona, there was no time for pictures. If you want to see pictures and read about it, go to his page and look for the Zorro 5 sword. It is back in available swords now. Under basket hilts and spadroons.
And just so we are clear, I am not trashing the guy or his work. It was beautiful! Just not what I was expecting for the price. And that is why I am looking for other's experience with his stuff and general thoughts on the matter.
Thanks!
So I finally ran across Jesse Belsky's Zorro sword and knew I needed it. It was nearly identical to the movie sword and was quite functional, boasting a modified h/t blade and a forged hilt.
I heard good things about his swords so thought I would give it a shot. At $1,150 for the sword and scabbard, it was expensive but manageable, and appropriate IF it lived up to the expectations.
When I received the sword, initially I was quite pleased. Until I took it apart... Something I like about his designs is that almost all of them are designed to be taken apart for easy maintenance and blade replacement. But as soon as I took it apart I saw how quite loose his tolerances were for every part of the hilt. It had a 5 piece construction; blade, guard, handle, handle guard, and threaded pommel.
Now, to me, with a $1,000+ sword I expect quite right tolerances between such pieces. To me every piece of that hilt construction should be extremely tight on it's own, not relying on another part to make it tight. That is what I was taught is correct construction for any well made sword. And then the pommel just keeps it all together, but doesn't really have to be super tight. That is how I do my swords and what I expect from any sword over the ~$300-$600 price range. I put the sword back together and cranked on the pommel attempting to get it tight enough so nothing moved. But no matter how tight you made the pommel, the hilt still had movement due to the loose tolerances.
I immediately contacted him and politely expressed my concerns. I was hoping to hear that was unusual and should not be the case. Instead I was told that is how they are, and to just tighten it more.... So I again politely expressed that that should not be and asked what we can do to fix it. Sure I can add epoxy inside the handle and put some weld on the loose steel parts to make them as tight as they should be, but that is what I do with $300 swords, not $1000 swords. So I was hoping he would offer to redo it with tighter fittings. No, he just told me to return it and he would refund me.
So I wanted to ask the pro's here. Who has dealt with him and his swords? And regardless, am I crazy in expecting a $1,000+ sword to be quite tight?! Or am I founded in that expectation? Because he sure was shocked I was displeased with the tolerances.
If you pay VA or Albion $1,000 for a sword you get insanely tight tolerances. So that is what I expect of ANYthing in that range. What this was, more closely resembled what I see on $300 mass produced Pakistan swords... Sure the material was nice, but the construction was quite poor. And it wasn't even a one-off blade!, it was just a h/t! So where was the value in that?! Where did he get charging $1,150 for that?!
So I wanted to put that out there and get some thoughts.
My apologies for the lack of pictures. I packed it up quickly before leaving for a month-long deployment to Arizona, there was no time for pictures. If you want to see pictures and read about it, go to his page and look for the Zorro 5 sword. It is back in available swords now. Under basket hilts and spadroons.
And just so we are clear, I am not trashing the guy or his work. It was beautiful! Just not what I was expecting for the price. And that is why I am looking for other's experience with his stuff and general thoughts on the matter.
Thanks!