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Post by kk on Sept 19, 2022 7:09:39 GMT
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Post by eastman on Sept 20, 2022 1:58:59 GMT
yep, it's official, must buy one of these
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Post by legacyofthesword on Sept 20, 2022 4:34:19 GMT
Very excited to see this! I love the European swords that LK Chen has been coming out recently. Historically accurate rapier at this price point are extremely rare.
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Post by curiomansion on Sept 20, 2022 8:23:22 GMT
Are you making a sparring version of this sword? That would sell out so quickly!
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Post by kk on Sept 20, 2022 11:06:54 GMT
I would suggest you put a comment on the Youtube video and Mr. Chen can respond to you directly.
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Post by eastman on Oct 9, 2022 4:29:33 GMT
yep, it's official, must buy one of these
now it is completely official - order has been placed
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Post by curiomansion on Oct 9, 2022 7:40:08 GMT
yep, it's official, must buy one of these
now it is completely official - order has been placed
Please let us know how it is when you get it! |
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Post by eastman on Oct 9, 2022 14:58:09 GMT
now it is completely official - order has been placed
Please let us know how it is when you get it!
I'll update when the rapier arrives. I haven't done any reviews on here, but I am thinking it would be an interesting comparison between the LK Chen Saxony and the Arms and Armor Musketeer that I already own.
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Post by pellius on Oct 9, 2022 15:06:20 GMT
Wow
Very impressive
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Post by eastman on Oct 29, 2022 2:15:23 GMT
Still no notice that it has shipped. It was placed as a pre-order, and the cavalry sword which was listed first has just shipped the first batch.
I sent them an email (in the middle of typing this reply) to see if there is a status update.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Oct 29, 2022 6:13:29 GMT
I look forward to your thoughts on it when it finally arrives.
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Post by eastman on Oct 29, 2022 16:03:11 GMT
the best way to describe the current situation is to paraphrase the old Paul Masson commercials - "We will sell no sword before its time"
final details are still being worked out for production, and based on the Ribaldo, I am expecting great things when this arrives
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Post by eastman on Dec 16, 2022 2:12:50 GMT
I have both the Ribaldo and the LK Chen made Balaur German Longsword, so I am expecting great things for the Saxony.
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Post by eastman on Jan 19, 2023 2:44:43 GMT
Got the email this morning. The first production batch of the Saxony rapiers have been released to the wild. My sword is on the way.
To Be Continued ...
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Post by legacyofthesword on Jan 26, 2023 1:12:40 GMT
Looking forward to the first impressions!
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Post by howler on Jan 26, 2023 2:55:07 GMT
Is this sword lefty friendly, for those of us cursed with the "devils paw"? Seems like it could work.
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Post by eastman on Jan 26, 2023 3:52:02 GMT
Is this sword lefty friendly, for those of us cursed with the "devils paw"? Seems like it could work.
Mine arrived today. I will post comparison pictures and a more detailed review this weekend.
The guard is not symmetric in terms of the shape of the bars, but there is nothing that prevents a good grip or good mobility when the Saxony is held in the left hand.
Considering that this is 1/3 the price of an A&A rapier (and comes with a wood core scabbard), it is a fantastic value. I currently own 3 swords from LK Chen (Saxony, Ribaldo and Balaur German Longsword) and their quality means I know I will be buying more.
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Post by howler on Jan 26, 2023 5:53:38 GMT
Is this sword lefty friendly, for those of us cursed with the "devils paw"? Seems like it could work.
Mine arrived today. I will post comparison pictures and a more detailed review this weekend.
The guard is not symmetric in terms of the shape of the bars, but there is nothing that prevents a good grip or good mobility when the Saxony is held in the left hand.
Considering that this is 1/3 the price of an A&A rapier (and comes with a wood core scabbard), it is a fantastic value. I currently own 3 swords from LK Chen (Saxony, Ribaldo and Balaur German Longsword) and their quality means I know I will be buying more.
I need to really consider this sword because my CS Ribbed Shell Swept Hilt is a large, heavy beast strictly to be used in the thrust, and even then would probably need an off hand dagger to increase defensive capability. |
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Post by eastman on Jan 29, 2023 5:12:53 GMT
Started making notes for a side by side by side comparison of my 3 latest rapier purchases - Windlass Christus Imperat (CI), A&A Musketeer (M) and the LK Chen Saxony (S). Plan to shoot some pictures tomorrow (after I dig out from today's snow).
I figured I would post some notes from the cutting tests.
First test is based on the sharpness test in Alientude's videos. Point is stabbed into standard copier/printer paper and then given a little bit of forward motion under gravity to see how much paper it will cut. The (CI) stabbed a hole in the paper and didn't cut any farther than the blade width - dull as a hoe factory "edge". (M) fared better, at the first bit of forward motion, it cut about 4" before the edge snagged the paper, but didn't cut all the way. (S) cut smoothly through the paper in a very short amount of forward travel.
Second test used the leg of an old pair of denim pants. The point of the sword was poked through the denim, then a draw cut (with a little pressure) to try to cut through the fabric. (CI) took a fair bit of force to poke through the denim and didn't even pretend to cut. (M) stabbed through easily, but only cut a few inches of the denim. (S) stabbed through effortlessly and easily cut all the way to the end of the fabric.
So overall summary of factory edges - (CI) DULL, (M) moderately sharp and (S) very sharp
Blade stiffness - (M) is the stiffest (and also 2" shorter) with the other 2 about the same.
All 3 of them handle well, but the (CI) feels heavier than the other 2. When wielding the sword without gloves, the (M) and (S) are both very comfortable in the hand. The (CI) has a guard with a square cross section to the bars. The quillion has the edge of one of these squares right where the index finger wraps around, making it the least comfortable of the 3 to use.
The Saxony isn't perfect, but for the price range ($500-600), there isn't a better rapier out there. Ideally I would like the blade a little stiffer, but it pokes holes well and the hollow-ground diamond cross-section is ideal for a sharp cutting edge. I will be making a baldric to wear the Saxony at Ren Faire this summer.
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pgandy
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Posts: 9,519
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Post by pgandy on Jan 29, 2023 13:58:08 GMT
Thank you for the comparison. The Saxony sounds like a winner. I have only one rapier, a Windlass Pilsen. I had no interest in another as I didn’t think I would get a better one. I had wanted one with a S hilt, but now I am glad not to have all of weight adding spaghetti would have brought. The Christus Imperat really caught my eye when it first came out but couldn’t make myself pull the trigger and later I was glad that I didn’t.
I just tried to repeat your tests with the Pilsen. Perhaps I should touch up the edge as I haven’t in many years. At that time I could easily halve a litre juice carton. Trying duplicate your test; it would slice copy paper. Penetrate denim but only made a small cut when trying to draw afterwards. I did feel some resistance on penetration. So, my Pilsen roughly equals your Christus Imperat. If I had cleaned the heavy layer of wax off and resharpened, after many years of casual use, it may have fared a little better but in no way do I expect to equal the Saxony.
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Things have changed!