Post by perignum on Nov 18, 2022 14:13:52 GMT
Hi everyone,
This is an old skool text-heavy review. I’m writing it during my lunch break so I’ll post photos later.
Last week I purchased one of these babies for the princely sum of 267 euro from CelticWebMerchant in the Netherlands. I bought it out of curiosity and because I needed a nice big type Xiia.
From reading reviews, I was expecting a pretty flexible blade with lots of presence but practically zero distal taper. Something that looked nice but was functionally a little off. What I got surprised me and has led me to believe that this is a new iteration of this particular sword.
Firstly, the dagger imprint that is pictured just above the guard in many reviews and photographs isn’t on mine. This was one of the first things I noticed. So I took a calipers to the blade and got 5mm at the base, 4mm at midway and 3.5mm 10cm off the point. Not aggressive distal taper but definitely apparent. Also, the blade was 56mm wide and I think this is wider than advertised (edit: I just checked and KoA states it is 50.8mm wide)
The fit and finish is excellent. On a par with Windlass and the handle with its cord imprint exceeds it. The shape, though is a bit weird in that it has a narrow ‘neck’ close to the guard where you’d expect it to be thickest. I’ve found, though that this makes it really easily to draw the sword from its scabbard.
Speaking of which, it comes with a really excellent wood and leather scabbard, complete with rain guard, integrated belt and leather detailing. Unbelievable value for money. The sword fits tightly with only a slight rattle down the blade when shaken hard.
The blade itself is a pretty impressive 99cm long and communicates flex when swung with force. However, it is in no way whippy. It is less wobbly than my Windlass Erbach and I have one of the new ones of those with the extra half pound of steel in the blade.
The PoB is 19cm/7.5”. This could be improved by adding a weightier pommel as the type K it’s mounted with seems a bit anaemic. Then again this might add a bit too much weight to a sword that’s relatively light for its size. It’s close to 50” from tip to peen block and weighs only 1.5kg
Speaking of the peen, it is done really well with no burrs or rough edges.
The blade is marketed as modelled on the Temple Church Sword pulled from the Thames in London. A type xiiia of hefty proportions. However my sword tapers far too dramatically and has too acute a point to call it a xiiia. The profile along with its just-under-three-quarter length fuller makes this a xiia.
Overall I’m really, really impressed with this sword. In style and finish it reminds me very much of the Balaur Arms range. I can’t recommend it enough.
This is an old skool text-heavy review. I’m writing it during my lunch break so I’ll post photos later.
Last week I purchased one of these babies for the princely sum of 267 euro from CelticWebMerchant in the Netherlands. I bought it out of curiosity and because I needed a nice big type Xiia.
From reading reviews, I was expecting a pretty flexible blade with lots of presence but practically zero distal taper. Something that looked nice but was functionally a little off. What I got surprised me and has led me to believe that this is a new iteration of this particular sword.
Firstly, the dagger imprint that is pictured just above the guard in many reviews and photographs isn’t on mine. This was one of the first things I noticed. So I took a calipers to the blade and got 5mm at the base, 4mm at midway and 3.5mm 10cm off the point. Not aggressive distal taper but definitely apparent. Also, the blade was 56mm wide and I think this is wider than advertised (edit: I just checked and KoA states it is 50.8mm wide)
The fit and finish is excellent. On a par with Windlass and the handle with its cord imprint exceeds it. The shape, though is a bit weird in that it has a narrow ‘neck’ close to the guard where you’d expect it to be thickest. I’ve found, though that this makes it really easily to draw the sword from its scabbard.
Speaking of which, it comes with a really excellent wood and leather scabbard, complete with rain guard, integrated belt and leather detailing. Unbelievable value for money. The sword fits tightly with only a slight rattle down the blade when shaken hard.
The blade itself is a pretty impressive 99cm long and communicates flex when swung with force. However, it is in no way whippy. It is less wobbly than my Windlass Erbach and I have one of the new ones of those with the extra half pound of steel in the blade.
The PoB is 19cm/7.5”. This could be improved by adding a weightier pommel as the type K it’s mounted with seems a bit anaemic. Then again this might add a bit too much weight to a sword that’s relatively light for its size. It’s close to 50” from tip to peen block and weighs only 1.5kg
Speaking of the peen, it is done really well with no burrs or rough edges.
The blade is marketed as modelled on the Temple Church Sword pulled from the Thames in London. A type xiiia of hefty proportions. However my sword tapers far too dramatically and has too acute a point to call it a xiiia. The profile along with its just-under-three-quarter length fuller makes this a xiia.
Overall I’m really, really impressed with this sword. In style and finish it reminds me very much of the Balaur Arms range. I can’t recommend it enough.