Vision Ansbach
Feb 2, 2022 2:34:52 GMT
Post by Razor on Feb 2, 2022 2:34:52 GMT
Vision Ancback(Warsword)
Review By Ray Harrington
Introduction
Vision is a collaboration between Gus Trim from ATrim and Sonny Suttles from Valiant Armoury. With this combination, you get Valiant's hilt prowess, and keep the dynamic balance Gus prizes so much. So basically you get Valiant's high end fit and finish with a sword that handles and cuts like an ATrim.
Gus sent the prototype ,'Ansbach' for me to review. Gus has sent swords to sell and try out at my sword gatherings/cutting parties, but this is the first time he as sent me a sword to do a review for. I do not work for ATrim or Valiant Armoury, nor did I buy this sword. When I am done with this review, I will be sending the sword back.
Gus sent the Ansback the same way he sends all of his swords: in a rifle case. VA will be sending the rest of the line in cardboard boxes. He also mentions that, "It is the prototype, but you could consider it the first production piece too. This is what the production pieces will be like. No changes."
When the sword arrived, I was excited and started to cut the zip ties that Gus secures the gun case for shipping. While cutting the zip ties of I noticed one corner of the gun case damaged, and didn't think anything of it until I opened the case. The tip was bent and a little part of the point was broken off, approximately 1/16th or 1/8th of an inch. With further inspection of the case, there is some damage where the tip hit the inside. I can only assume that the case was dropped pretty hard during shipping.
I contacted Gus about the damage and was I giving the option of sending him back the sword or fix it myself and do the review. Well, you see the review, so you know what I picked. In the pictures you can see the damaged tip and case, plus a picture of the tip after I fix it the best I could. So if the tip looks a little different than the rest of the production run, you will know why.
The sword is named after a city in Germany. I wanted to pronounce Ansback right, so I Googled it. YouTube showed three different way to pronounce it, so I did a little more research and found the one that might be the correct one. I ask someone from Germany which video was the correct pronunciation. He confirmed that the video I thought was right.
Here is the video.
Statistics
Over all Length: 45"
Blade Length: 35"
Handle Length: 7 1/4"
Weight: 3 lbs 1.5 oz
POB: 5 1/4"
COP: 22"
Width from base: 1 7/8"
Width from COP: 1 9/16"
Thickness: At The Guard: 6.39mm, POB: 5.89mm, COP: 4.25mm,
8"from the tip: 3.41mm, 4" from the tip: 2.87", 1" from the tip: 1.63mm
The Blade
The blade is a type XVIa, with a 20 3/4" fuller. It is based off of ATrim model VXIa.1. The edge came paper sharp with no burrs runing down the edge. The blade is made of 5160 high carbon steel with a hardness of 51-53 HRC.
Cross Guard
The guard is curved and waisted on the width and thickness on the squarish arms.
Handle/Pommel
The Ansback has a waisted handle that is made from poplar wood and covered with leather. The handle has three risers with a oval cross section on the top part of the handle, and a hexagon cross section that tapers down to the pommel. It is a very comfortable handle that indexes well for a good edge alignment. The handle width at the guard is 1 19/64", above the middle riser 1 13/32", at the pommel 29/32".
The pommel is a scent-stopper, that has a pear, hexagon shape, that has been hot peened. The pommel is 2 1/4" long. The thickness of the pommel at the handle is 43/64" and it's thickest part is 1 13/32".
Handling/Test Cutting
As stated before, the Ansback is based off of the ATrim XVIa.1. This is a warsword that has blade forward presence to deliver powerful blows and still have the the balance to easily control, which allows precision cuts. This sword handles quite well and flows from guard to guard, as well as when I'm cutting with it. Gus calls this a warsword, as it isn't as agile as the longswords he makes. The Ansback would be a good sword for cutting tournaments and for anyone who wants a sword that hits hard, cuts with authority, and is still agile enough to do precise thrusting.
I have three simple categorizations of sharpness. The first being paper sharp, second is newspaper sharp, and the third being hair shaving sharp. The duller the edge is, the more force and speed is needed to cut. Sharpness is also needed to cut through other material such as fabric. From my own testing plus what I have read in historical writings, archeological findings, and highly regarded sword researcher and maker, swords were extremely sharp. If a sword is duller than newspaper sharp, I consider it dull. Gus gave me permission to sharpen this sword to hair shaving sharp for the test cutting in the video.
Thank you for reading my review.
Ray
Review By Ray Harrington
Introduction
Vision is a collaboration between Gus Trim from ATrim and Sonny Suttles from Valiant Armoury. With this combination, you get Valiant's hilt prowess, and keep the dynamic balance Gus prizes so much. So basically you get Valiant's high end fit and finish with a sword that handles and cuts like an ATrim.
Gus sent the prototype ,'Ansbach' for me to review. Gus has sent swords to sell and try out at my sword gatherings/cutting parties, but this is the first time he as sent me a sword to do a review for. I do not work for ATrim or Valiant Armoury, nor did I buy this sword. When I am done with this review, I will be sending the sword back.
Gus sent the Ansback the same way he sends all of his swords: in a rifle case. VA will be sending the rest of the line in cardboard boxes. He also mentions that, "It is the prototype, but you could consider it the first production piece too. This is what the production pieces will be like. No changes."
When the sword arrived, I was excited and started to cut the zip ties that Gus secures the gun case for shipping. While cutting the zip ties of I noticed one corner of the gun case damaged, and didn't think anything of it until I opened the case. The tip was bent and a little part of the point was broken off, approximately 1/16th or 1/8th of an inch. With further inspection of the case, there is some damage where the tip hit the inside. I can only assume that the case was dropped pretty hard during shipping.
I contacted Gus about the damage and was I giving the option of sending him back the sword or fix it myself and do the review. Well, you see the review, so you know what I picked. In the pictures you can see the damaged tip and case, plus a picture of the tip after I fix it the best I could. So if the tip looks a little different than the rest of the production run, you will know why.
The sword is named after a city in Germany. I wanted to pronounce Ansback right, so I Googled it. YouTube showed three different way to pronounce it, so I did a little more research and found the one that might be the correct one. I ask someone from Germany which video was the correct pronunciation. He confirmed that the video I thought was right.
Here is the video.
Statistics
Over all Length: 45"
Blade Length: 35"
Handle Length: 7 1/4"
Weight: 3 lbs 1.5 oz
POB: 5 1/4"
COP: 22"
Width from base: 1 7/8"
Width from COP: 1 9/16"
Thickness: At The Guard: 6.39mm, POB: 5.89mm, COP: 4.25mm,
8"from the tip: 3.41mm, 4" from the tip: 2.87", 1" from the tip: 1.63mm
The Blade
The blade is a type XVIa, with a 20 3/4" fuller. It is based off of ATrim model VXIa.1. The edge came paper sharp with no burrs runing down the edge. The blade is made of 5160 high carbon steel with a hardness of 51-53 HRC.
Cross Guard
The guard is curved and waisted on the width and thickness on the squarish arms.
Handle/Pommel
The Ansback has a waisted handle that is made from poplar wood and covered with leather. The handle has three risers with a oval cross section on the top part of the handle, and a hexagon cross section that tapers down to the pommel. It is a very comfortable handle that indexes well for a good edge alignment. The handle width at the guard is 1 19/64", above the middle riser 1 13/32", at the pommel 29/32".
The pommel is a scent-stopper, that has a pear, hexagon shape, that has been hot peened. The pommel is 2 1/4" long. The thickness of the pommel at the handle is 43/64" and it's thickest part is 1 13/32".
Handling/Test Cutting
As stated before, the Ansback is based off of the ATrim XVIa.1. This is a warsword that has blade forward presence to deliver powerful blows and still have the the balance to easily control, which allows precision cuts. This sword handles quite well and flows from guard to guard, as well as when I'm cutting with it. Gus calls this a warsword, as it isn't as agile as the longswords he makes. The Ansback would be a good sword for cutting tournaments and for anyone who wants a sword that hits hard, cuts with authority, and is still agile enough to do precise thrusting.
I have three simple categorizations of sharpness. The first being paper sharp, second is newspaper sharp, and the third being hair shaving sharp. The duller the edge is, the more force and speed is needed to cut. Sharpness is also needed to cut through other material such as fabric. From my own testing plus what I have read in historical writings, archeological findings, and highly regarded sword researcher and maker, swords were extremely sharp. If a sword is duller than newspaper sharp, I consider it dull. Gus gave me permission to sharpen this sword to hair shaving sharp for the test cutting in the video.
Thank you for reading my review.
Ray