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Post by mountainsylph on Jun 28, 2022 11:30:58 GMT
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 9,521
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Post by pgandy on Jun 28, 2022 12:21:07 GMT
Sorry, no experience with that one. However, using KoA’s specs that blade is 4.7-4.5 mm thick and 3.8”-1.2”-1.5” wide. As it is double-edged divide the width in half and you’ll get some idea of the rather steep angle the cutting edge will have. KoA does not provide a sharpening service, that I can tell, on this one that might be saying something. I hope this will help some. www.kultofathena.com/product/greek-xiphos/ |
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Post by mrbadexample on Jun 28, 2022 13:21:38 GMT
What are your priorities for a good sword in this case? Are you focused more on function or accuracy? Both?
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Post by Mark Millman on Jun 28, 2022 13:35:28 GMT
Dear mountainsylph, I have two, but please note that I haven't sharpened them and don't cut with them. They're very good indeed in the sense that the model is far and away the least historically inaccurate mass-produced xiphos available, and the inaccuracies are easily fixed at home with simple tools. They're also pretty much certain to be made of better metal than the originals were. As far as handling, Deepeeka's consistency of production is known to be spotty. You may get one you like or you may get one you dislike, but it's hard to know which in advance unless when you buy it you can get a precise report on the specific example from the seller. If you have the resources to modify the blade, then if you get one that doesn't satisfy you it's not hard to improve it. I think, on balance, the fact that the blade is lenticular in cross-section makes it easier to modify than a diamond cross-section blade, but not everyone will agree. When Deepeeka was developing the model and the line they're a part of, they sent Matthew Amt some prototypes that he seemed pretty happy with (scroll to the page's last photo). It looks like the sword's current production model retains the prototype's specifications pretty well (note, however, that Mr. Amt gives no information on the prototypes' thickness taper). On the other hand, the spear-head that he liked as a prototype seems to have gained a fair amount of weight in its current production model. I hope this proves helpful. Best, Mark Millman |
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rschuch
Member
Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, far away into dark and danger.
Posts: 575 
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Post by rschuch on Jun 28, 2022 15:01:53 GMT
I'm curious how they compare to the Devils Edge xiphos. They look almost identical, though the steel is different (EN45 compared to 420 stainless) and the center diamond ridge is more prominent. I have both the short and the longer version. I like the shorter one (my version of Sting), but the longer one came so warped I gave it away.
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Post by eastman on Jun 29, 2022 1:36:21 GMT
Sorry, no experience with that one. However, using KoA’s specs that blade is 4.7-4.5 mm thick and 3.8”-1.2”-1.5” wide. As it is double-edged divide the width in half and you’ll get some idea of the rather steep angle the cutting edge will have. KoA does not provide a sharpening service, that I can tell, on this one that might be saying something. I hope this will help some. www.kultofathena.com/product/greek-xiphos/
They don't list the sharpening options for blades that are out of stock. They will gladly sharpen a Deepeeka steel sword when it is in stock.
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Post by mountainsylph on Jun 29, 2022 14:14:59 GMT
What are your priorities for a good sword in this case? Are you focused more on function or accuracy? Both? Mainly both but all depending on how the accuracy affects function and handling. I mean wouldn't inaccuracy mean it wouldn't function as 'well' as the historical versions? |
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Post by joeb on Jun 30, 2022 13:46:31 GMT
This is simply the best low cost Xiphos on the market. The rest are simply not accurate, even if those swords are better quality they lack what makes this sword more authentic. The metal used for the blade is better than what most ancient Greek swords of the period used, although it's poor quality compared to most modern sword blades. If anyone is a fan of Japanese swords this is not the sword for you. If you want it sharpened the steel is soft enough for you to sharpen it yourself, just like Hoplites did back in the day. Also this comes with an accurate scabbard which is a major plus. For the price it's a good deal.
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Post by Murffy on Jun 30, 2022 14:29:21 GMT
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Post by Mark Millman on Jun 30, 2022 20:01:38 GMT
Dear mountainsylph, What are your priorities for a good sword in this case? Are you focused more on function or accuracy? Both? Mainly both but all depending on how the accuracy affects function and handling. If accuracy is a criterion, then as joeb says, Deepeeka's xiphos is the only choice. No other production-line xiphos comes as close to historical accuracy. To do better, you'd have to go custom. Not at all. As more than one contributor to this thread has pointed out, the steel in Deepeeka's xiphos is better than the iron in the great majority of surviving artifacts will have been, even when the artifacts were new, so Deepeeka's will stay sharp longer and be less subject to bending and breaking. The bigger concern is that the modern reproduction may function differently, not worse.
It also depends on what you expect from a xiphos. Some were designed as primarily thrusting weapons (I believe there's one example with an extremely narrow blade which could only have thrust); others will have cut well. (A Greek interested in swords designed specifically to cut probably would have preferred a kopis to a xiphos.) Remember that to the Greeks, as to most people throughout world history, swords were sidearms. A hoplite's primary weapon system was the aspis-and-dory combination--and note that I mention the shield first very intentionally. Most hoplite battles were decided with spears alone and ended without swords being drawn. Greek xiphe only had to be good enough for their purpose. For that matter, Livy (31. 34. 4) says that after one skirmish early in the Second Macedonian War, the Macedonians, who at that time used Greek-style swords, were horrified by the damage caused by the Celtiberian-style swords that the Romans had recently adopted, which shows that far more effective sword designs existed alongside the xiphos and kopis. I hope this proves helpful.
Best,
Mark Millman
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Post by joeb on Jun 30, 2022 23:05:04 GMT
I bought one of these and the blade was hollow ground. That was an odd choice I thought. Not many artifact xiphos blades have survived, but as far as I know none were hollow ground. If I am wrong I am always pleased to be set right and learn more. |
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Things have changed!