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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2022 20:42:46 GMT
Which is a big shame considering that amount of money everyone is spending on these swords. Hopefully people can get returns or refunds processed. It's not a complete loss though. My sword is well done. I know others who had no issues. |
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Post by nddave on Oct 22, 2022 21:20:15 GMT
Just a note:
I have pruned 'Enoch-Kane's' posts from this thread.
If there are others I've missed, please PM me.
Thank you all, and be patient with us, some decisions need time to percolate. I'm on sword hobby retirement so mostly lurking from time to time but seems a bit harsh to prune all his posts, a lot of the ones with Stats and Graphs are pretty useful. I can appreciate them at the least, managed to save some of them. Saw some comments being thrown around like "Stat Junkies" by Nddave and Lemal. You know, I just call it "having standards", without such standards & expectations the end products end up being all over the semprini place and you get people who own the same product all having wildly different and sometimes hilarious handling experiences heh. You obviously haven't been around and don't understand the circumstances and literally how the subject of something as trivial as"distal taper" has has literally derailed threads and detracted posting from members due to these "Stat Junkies". It's a serious problem, probably the closest I've ever seen something get so severely ridiculous is with videogame console fanboys and other snobby elitists. Yes graphs and charts are welcome and do add to the library of knowledge of the forum but again context is key, when it comes to the behavior and attitude of certain members. I'll PM you more in a bit as to not derail the thread. |
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Post by cearball on Oct 22, 2022 21:30:00 GMT
My friend who is sharpening my two swords said he noticed the XVII has a slight twist/warp to the grip. Luckily he hasn't sharpened it yet, so once he provides photos, I can decide if I warrants contacting Museum Replicas. Judging from reports, Windlass QC is as expected. Damn sometimes it takes awhile to notice. Ducks as otherwise I really like the sword even if I wish the stats were closer. |
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Post by alientude on Oct 22, 2022 21:36:12 GMT
Here's the misaligned grip. Pretty subtle, but my friend says it's less so in the hand. I've reached out to MRL to see what they say.
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Post by nddave on Oct 22, 2022 21:45:19 GMT
Here's the misaligned grip. Pretty subtle, but my friend says it's less so in the hand. I've reached out to MRL to see what they say.
Seems pretty minor. Could simply be a little offshaped when they were working the handle or it could be a little turn when they were peening. Seen such minor fit and finish issues on more expensive swords so I don't think it's really necessary to say "typical Windlass QC" when basically every manufacturer from Albion to Deepeeka has little fit and finish issues like this from time to time. Every production manufacturer has a few lemons in a batch and at least is just a slightly misaligned grip over a more serious issue like heat treatment or body warping. Someone has to get a lemon now and then and I think we all have been bitten by the lemon bug now and then, Lol. Me just recently with some Leather Armour I purchased for a Halloween costume. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2022 21:46:24 GMT
Here's the misaligned grip. Pretty subtle, but my friend says it's less so in the hand. I've reached out to MRL to see what they say.
Personally, that's enough for me to want an exchange facilitated. Hopefully MRL is willing to do that. |
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Post by alientude on Oct 22, 2022 21:48:05 GMT
Here's the misaligned grip. Pretty subtle, but my friend says it's less so in the hand. I've reached out to MRL to see what they say.
Personally, that's enough for me to want an exchange facilitated. Hopefully MRL is willing to do that.
I've had good experiences with their customer service before, so hopefully they'll accommodate.
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Post by skelley on Oct 23, 2022 0:06:24 GMT
That is unfortunate, hope it gets worked out to your satisfaction. I just re-checked my model and I think, think, that it may have the slightest warp to the right. I say think cause I'm not sure if the light is messing with my eyes or if my brain is looking for something that's not there, if that makes sense. Even if that's the case, I doubt that it will affect its performance to any noticeable degree since the blade already has a very thin and flexible foible, so I can live with that. I also spent 50 bucks on a Lord of Battles belt to knot around the scabbard but that didn't really work out. Still looks good though, if I ever go to a costume party or Ren fair again I'll just use it for my Templar tunic, even if it's probably too narrow for the period.  |
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Post by paristheodore on Oct 23, 2022 1:08:34 GMT
I contacted them about the tear in my grip and they sent a shipping label for repair/exchange in less than 24 hours.
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Post by curiomansion on Oct 23, 2022 8:57:43 GMT
Glad mine didn't have any issues. I was wondering about QC on these. By modern standards it's a bit sloppy, but I've seen so many originals even in "good" condition that I still don't think it's bad. Most of these are easy fixes, but if you can exchange them! Get one you're happy with!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2022 2:11:08 GMT
Oh dear.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Oct 24, 2022 8:58:43 GMT
Damn, these QC issues are quite worrying. Hopefully they wake up and tighten up their QC game. Frankly the off center hilt components wouldn't bother me (I see stuff like that as "authentically medieval", lol) but at this price point I completely understand someone for whom that is an issue wanting a replacement.
The crack on the edge though... Oof.
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Post by cearball on Oct 24, 2022 12:23:20 GMT
Full disclosure, I wanted to alert everyone to examine their edges properly before cutting. My sharpener, Kyle's sharpener, lol, has discovered a crack in the edge of my 15th-century two-hander upon starting. I have emailed MRL.   What are the likely caused for such things? |
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Post by curiomansion on Oct 24, 2022 15:59:03 GMT
Cracked edge is totally unacceptable. Sorry to hear that!
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Post by alientude on Oct 24, 2022 16:18:34 GMT
MRL sent me a return label for my type XVII longsword, so as expected, their customer service is excellent.
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Post by skelley on Oct 24, 2022 20:38:31 GMT
Good to hear!
Yeah, most of the things mentioned before seem relatively minor and would be up to the individual's own tolerance but that's just... Yikes.
Just a stab in the dark but a crack like that would most likely occur during the quenching process, yes? The only thing I base that on is an episode of Nova I watched where they recreated a 16th century breastplate.
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Post by eastman on Oct 24, 2022 20:59:13 GMT
I checked my 14th C Arming Sword closely and did not see any cracks in the edge after degreasing the blade. I didn't weigh the sword, but I was checking the point of balance (a stat that MRL doesn't list) and it is ~6.5" from the guard (tip side past the TOTO circles on the blade).
Although the construction is better than the standard Windlass, it is not at the same level as Squire-Line Albions.
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Post by blackprince on Oct 25, 2022 0:36:18 GMT
Good to hear! Yeah, most of the things mentioned before seem relatively minor and would be up to the individual's own tolerance but that's just... Yikes. Just a stab in the dark but a crack like that would most likely occur during the quenching process, yes? The only thing I base that on is an episode of Nova I watched where they recreated a 16th century breastplate. I would guess the crack was in the original billet of stock material it was forged from… Cracks and inclusions can exist in the billet of material before the forging even starts, and can be difficult to detect. During forging, the crack can increase in size. Cracks can also form during the forging process, if the smith hammers on the metal when too cool. Heat treating can form cracks as well, or increase their size. All that being said, the smiths at Windlass are better than I’ll ever hope to be and they have a state of the art heat treating facility. By process of elimination, my best guess is the crack was probably in the stock material, right at the edge. So long answer short, yes, this could have also occurred during quenching. |
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Oct 26, 2022 20:20:06 GMT
I think the lack of quality control is bit of a hit financially. Shipping costs are constantly increasing and I think returns should eat the profit and they are left with "factory seconds" in stock.
Still I wish this project will be a success in overall and we would get more items like these from this collab.
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Post by takitam on Oct 26, 2022 21:18:57 GMT
Yep. I wish them well, this is something that a sword market needs. I'm personally at a point in this hobby, where I believe that only recreations of specific historical swords done by swordsmiths with attention to detail in every aspect, are worth anything. I no longer see the appeal in a modern swordsmith cutting corners and making plenty of same'ish swords 'based on a few originals from museum catalogs'. They look good and are solidly made but often lack some important details.
Based on what owners reported here, it seems that Windlass is unable to deliver a product that is close to specs. I'm ok with an ounce, maximum two ounces deviation, but no more. I also think that a few scratches, tear in the grip or slight asymmetry of the cross are minor flaws. Things like 4-5 ounces weight difference, twisted grip etc. are more major than minor flaws imo. After all, it's the grip that connects the hand with the edge. If the interface is broken, the whole system won't work properly. If the weight differs by 150 grams in a sword that is supposed to be 880g, something isn't right. The appeal of this product range is the accuracy in replicating a specific antique. If they don't deliver, why buy it.
I might get the Falchion second hand sometime in the future but won't risk a purchase now. Seems like Windlass has too much experience producing budget swords and not enough with quality replicas. I hope they get better with time.
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Nov 1, 2024 0:13:58 GMT
Nov 1, 2024 0:13:58 GMT
