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Post by curiomansion on Oct 15, 2022 17:53:05 GMT
![]() I have yet to put it through its paces, but based on first impressions, the hype is real on these swords!! Pictured next to my RA Albion 1.33. It handles like a dream, and the blade geometry hangs with the BEST of them! The presentation is top notch (though I'd rather they chill out on the presentation and knock a few bucks off, but they have a brand to maintain). When you open the box, it feels like a high end collector's piece. The edge is so close to being sharp, I don't imagine spending more than 15 minutes getting this thing up to cutting like a monster. Pretty from every angle. Don't let the Windlass tag fool you (though the Windlass tag on this one is a premium mark, well earned). The scabbard is budget plus level, more than serviceable enough. It's worth full asking price, easily! Assuming it holds up to heavy use which I will proceed to do. Any discount you get on top of retail just sweetens the deal. Also remember to sign up for a MRL or Atlanta Cutlery rewards program. I forgot and left some money on the table. This is a game changer! I can't wait to test this thing! If it stands up, these will be my go to beater swords.
Thanks for the update. I just ordered one while MRL still has them in stock.
Which one did you get? |
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Post by eastman on Oct 15, 2022 20:56:25 GMT
Thanks for the update. I just ordered one while MRL still has them in stock.
Which one did you get?
That arming sword was the one I was looking at, though I might eventually buy the falchion also.
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Post by skelley on Oct 15, 2022 21:31:10 GMT
Speaking of the falchion, remember that there was concern about the nagel being up-swept in the photos? I just just checked MRL again and it looks like the advertisement pictures were changed showing the correct straight nagel Matt Easton mentioned. Probably an early prototype was used? Has anyone received a Wakefield in person yet? New pic:  |
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Post by alientude on Oct 15, 2022 21:36:32 GMT
My Wakefield is due to be delivered to my sharpener tomorrow.
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Post by cearball on Oct 16, 2022 2:40:34 GMT
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Post by curiomansion on Oct 16, 2022 14:38:22 GMT
Video of my cutting with the unsharpened arming sword. A lot of water splashing but the cuts are clean. Will post a comparison once sharpened.
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Post by cearball on Oct 17, 2022 15:51:52 GMT
Anyone received the Wakefield yet?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2022 17:46:43 GMT
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Oct 17, 2022 18:40:21 GMT
Thank you for posting links Markus, I think Outfit4events has much more reasonable prices for these. I have thought of getting the old version of English twohander from them for couple years as I liked the one I used to own.
Now after seeing the above video and prethinking a lot, I think I might eventually get this one (when the time feels right), seems like a major upgrade from the older version.
Seeing all the comments on these by forum members & elsewhere I do think I shouldn't consider these as "Windlass" as the quality seems to be so far above what we've usually think as being Windlass swords.
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nddave
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Post by nddave on Oct 17, 2022 18:47:05 GMT
Thank you for posting links Markus, I think Outfit4events has much more reasonable prices for these. I have thought of getting the old version of English twohander from them for couple years as I liked the one I used to own. Now after seeing the above video and prethinking a lot, I think I might eventually get this one (when the time feels right), seems like a major upgrade from the older version. Seeing all the comments on these by forum members & elsewhere I do think I shouldn't consider these as "Windlass" as the quality seems to be so far above what we've usually think as being Windlass swords. I think these new models cement the answer of "yes" to the question of, "can Windlass make better swords" but of course with a price hike. I think it also shows value to their standard models, that they are as good as they are in the budget market comparatively. I've always said if you want more from Windlass they'll have to raise prices so the real question now is, are standard Windlass good enough for $300, or should they give all their current models this level of detail and move up a price bracket? |
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Post by alientude on Oct 17, 2022 18:48:36 GMT
Anyone received the Wakefield yet?
Mine was just delivered to my friend for sharpening. Will still be several days (at least) until they make it to me.
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rschuch
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Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, far away into dark and danger.
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Post by rschuch on Oct 17, 2022 19:02:31 GMT
Thank you for posting links Markus, I think Outfit4events has much more reasonable prices for these. I have thought of getting the old version of English twohander from them for couple years as I liked the one I used to own. Now after seeing the above video and prethinking a lot, I think I might eventually get this one (when the time feels right), seems like a major upgrade from the older version. Seeing all the comments on these by forum members & elsewhere I do think I shouldn't consider these as "Windlass" as the quality seems to be so far above what we've usually think as being Windlass swords. I think these new models cement the answer of "yes" to the question of, "can Windlass make better swords" but of course with a price hike. I think it also shows value to their standard models, that they are as good as they are in the budget market comparatively. I've always said if you want more from Windlass they'll have to raise prices so the real question now is, are standard Windlass good enough for $300, or should they give all their current models this level of detail and move up a price bracket? Variety is the spice of life. I like having a choice and think Windlass needs to do both. For those who want a functional sword, but may not intend to actually cut with it, their $250-$350 budget line is great. Good enough for most of us and a step above Deepeeka and Universal and a few other brands. It fills a need. But the mid range Kingston Arms, Kingdom of Arms and others in that $400-$600 range could certainly use some competition to keep them honest and knowing Matt Easton and his pals are QCing these based on actual Royal Armory pieces is great, too, and fills a niche. I’ll probably be adding one to my list at some point. There’s room for both price ranges. |
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nddave
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Post by nddave on Oct 17, 2022 19:27:34 GMT
I think these new models cement the answer of "yes" to the question of, "can Windlass make better swords" but of course with a price hike. I think it also shows value to their standard models, that they are as good as they are in the budget market comparatively. I've always said if you want more from Windlass they'll have to raise prices so the real question now is, are standard Windlass good enough for $300, or should they give all their current models this level of detail and move up a price bracket? Variety is the spice of life. I like having a choice and think Windlass needs to do both. For those who want a functional sword, but may not intend to actually cut with it, their $250-$350 budget line is great. Good enough for most of us and a step above Deepeeka and Universal and a few other brands. It fills a need. But the mid range Kingston Arms, Kingdom of Arms and others in that $400-$600 range could certainly use some competition to keep them honest and knowing Matt Easton and his pals are QCing these based on actual Royal Armory pieces is great, too, and fills a niche. I’ll probably be adding one to my list at some point. There’s room for both price ranges. I think there is room for both too and have always wanted this more so in the European sword Market as it is in the katana market. Hanwei is a good example of this with their various price brackets of katana. If a larger manufacturer like Windlass could do this and keep it up I think it would add that much more to the market overall. And yes definitely some manufacturers do need a good dose of quality competition in their price bracket so they can either step up or step out. Another good example of this in the katana market was Cheness who were at their prime good enough for the $300 market. Though once other manufacturers stepped in and offered better for the same price sometimes even less it basically shut them down because they were either not able to or refused to re evaluate their swords. With a mix of what we've seen Windlass do with the new Balaur Arms models and of course these Royal Armouries models we're seeing what can be really done at various price points competivley. Now I wonder if they are re-evaluating their standard line itself to make it more standard to these other brand models. I mean overall these Royal Armouries models are basically just more detailed New Balaur Arms Swords from the scabbards to the general build quality, and the New Balaur Arms are basically Windlass Standard models with better scabbards and attention to details. |
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Post by Rabel Dusk on Oct 18, 2022 11:28:36 GMT
Has anyone who has received one of these models checked its specs against those provided by the makers? Weight,distal taper, etc? I'm curious to see if the specs on production swords match those of the prototypes.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2022 14:04:55 GMT
Has anyone who has received one of these models checked its specs against those provided by the makers? Weight,distal taper, etc? I'm curious to see if the specs on production swords match those of the prototypes.
All of my measurements for my type XVII are correct. I left my calipers at my mother's house and won't have them back until the weekend, but I can say even if the thickness is off by a millimeter here or there, my blade looks correct.
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Post by skelley on Oct 18, 2022 14:38:19 GMT
I just re-measured mine and I made a bit of a goof. I said the width of the blade at the quillon was 2 1/2 in. when in fact it is 2 1/4 in. That's what happens when I don't wear my glasses.  Aside from that and being a touch lighter, all other stats I can measure meet the listed specs from MRL. |
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Post by cearball on Oct 18, 2022 15:36:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2022 16:31:12 GMT
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Oct 18, 2022 16:32:47 GMT
Variety is the spice of life. I like having a choice and think Windlass needs to do both. For those who want a functional sword, but may not intend to actually cut with it, their $250-$350 budget line is great. Good enough for most of us and a step above Deepeeka and Universal and a few other brands. It fills a need. I think there is room for both too and have always wanted this more so in the European sword Market as it is in the katana market. Hanwei is a good example of this with their various price brackets of katana. If a larger manufacturer like Windlass could do this and keep it up I think it would add that much more to the market overall. Yup yup yup. A thousand times yup. There should be functional swords, at various levels of historical meticulousness, all the way up and down the price spectrum. With, for those purporting historical quality, the prices just fairly reflecting the amount of meticulousness put into them. Some cars are Lambos, some slightly used Corvettes, some Hyundais, and some just-get-me-to-work-and-back beaters. All have their place. |
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Oct 18, 2022 16:34:39 GMT
But bloody hell. For me personally now, I'm not going to be able to diversify the makers in my collection until I have most or all of these. "Damn you, Matt Easton!" Hahahaha!
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