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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 15:33:27 GMT
Hello dear sword enthusiasts,
I found the Sword of Avalon made by Windlass on sale for about 100€.
Someone who owns/owned this sword - is this a good sword or should I look for something else? For the price it’s too tempting and I love the look of the blade and don’t mind the look of the handle and pomnel.
This would be my first sword.
Thank you in advance, Cerius
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 5, 2024 15:46:30 GMT
Good price.
For me the grip is a deal breaker though, feels horrible without thick gloves. Also it's full metal if I remember correctly.
So if you are OK with the grip, why not.
Though I have to ask, what do you intend doing with it? It will probably not be the best cutter, but surely worth 100€.
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AndiTheBarvarian
Member
"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 10,331
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 5, 2024 15:54:58 GMT
It's one of my best Windlass swords, good handling due to the strong profile taper, even without distal taper. The grip is smooth (lacquered?) wood with a metal ring in the middle and the pommel. The grip is a bit a historical but pommels with nearly such a shape did exist. I wrapped the grip but left the ring, works well.   For 100 bucks a really good sword. Not many type XV in the market. |
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 5, 2024 16:14:43 GMT
It's one of my best Windlass swords, good handling due to the strong profile taper. The grip is wood with a metal ring in the middle and the pommel. The grip is a bit a historical but pommels with nearly such a shape did exist. I wrapped the grip but left the ring, works well. For 100 bucks a really good sword. I thought all was metal. The lacquer felt so cold.
If you have some epoxy you probably could fill in the ring a bit so it won't be as noticable.
If you can get any Windlass for that price, it's a good deal most of the time.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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"Lord of the Memes"
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Posts: 10,331
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 5, 2024 16:17:25 GMT
I thought of wrapping over it, but it's nice and it worked the way I did.
With a "normal" grip there's not much fantasy left in this sword.
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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 16:30:56 GMT
Wow, thank you for all the quick replies.
So I ordered it and looking forward to get it.
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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 16:33:22 GMT
It's one of my best Windlass swords, good handling due to the strong profile taper, even without distal taper. The grip is smooth (lacquered?) wood with a metal ring in the middle and the pommel. The grip is a bit a historical but pommels with nearly such a shape did exist. I wrapped the grip but left the ring, works well. For 100 bucks a really good sword. Not many type XV in the market. What is the wrap? Hockey or tennis tape? Very nice job with the wrap. |
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AndiTheBarvarian
Member
"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 10,331
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 5, 2024 16:43:09 GMT
Wilson Pro soft Overgrip, textured silicon rubber (I assume) tennis (I assume too) band.
No sticky side, you can remove it and use it again.
I only glue on the very end 1/2 inch.
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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 17:01:31 GMT
Wilson Pro soft Overgrip, textured silicon rubber (I assume) tennis (I assume too) band. No sticky side, you can remove it and use it again. I only glue on the very end 1/2 inch. Sweet, thank you. Let’s see how I’ll like the original grip. Good to know it can be improved if I don’t like it. Oh, now I’m all hyped. |
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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 17:08:51 GMT
Good price. For me the grip is a deal breaker though, feels horrible without thick gloves. Also it's full metal if I remember correctly. So if you are OK with the grip, why not. Though I have to ask, what do you intend doing with it? It will probably not be the best cutter, but surely worth 100€. Thank you for your feedback, too. I just want it for some general swinging around. Like learn some basic swings and thrusts. It looks to be blunt with no option for sharpening from the store. So no cutting intended. |
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 5, 2024 17:22:46 GMT
Yeah, should be fine then.
Blunt is relative. It isn't sharp but too sharp for sparring, normally a 0,5-1mm edge, sharpens relatively quickly.
Be sure to check for rattles and looseness and that the blade is straight. It won't be perfect and have some hammer marks, which is ok, but the blade should be straight, sometimes it is not.
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Post by cerius on Jan 5, 2024 17:31:17 GMT
Yeah, should be fine then. Blunt is relative. It isn't sharp but too sharp for sparring, normally a 0,5-1mm edge, sharpens relatively quickly. Be sure to check for rattles and looseness and that the blade is straight. It won't be perfect and have some hammer marks, which is ok, but the blade should be straight, sometimes it is not. OK, will check it when it arrives. Thanks for tips. You are both very helpful. |
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Post by cerius on Jan 16, 2024 19:19:10 GMT
Yeah, should be fine then. Blunt is relative. It isn't sharp but too sharp for sparring, normally a 0,5-1mm edge, sharpens relatively quickly. Be sure to check for rattles and looseness and that the blade is straight. It won't be perfect and have some hammer marks, which is ok, but the blade should be straight, sometimes it is not. Alright, the Avalon arrived and I’m pretty impressed. The blade is straight, everything is tight and firm and nothing rattles. The sword looks much better than on photos. The scabbard is leather and looks nice. Cleaned the sword with WD40 and started to swing it. First impressions: The sword is loud. The Avalon makes the sword-wind sound with every good aligned swing. The blade looks awesome. I wonder how easily it can be sharpened. But not until I learn to swing it safely. The grip is made of metal and the grooves are not very comfortable. I will need to wrap it either in that Wilson overgrip or maybe a bicycle handlebar gel tape. All in all I’m more than happy with it. A very nice sword for the money. |
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Post by cerius on Jan 16, 2024 19:23:36 GMT
Wilson Pro soft Overgrip, textured silicon rubber (I assume) tennis (I assume too) band. No sticky side, you can remove it and use it again. I only glue on the very end 1/2 inch. Hey Andi, what glue did you use? Liebe Grüße nach München  |
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Post by mrstabby on Jan 16, 2024 20:06:52 GMT
Me I use super glue. You can get a gel version if you want to have more drying time. Be very careful and only glue the tape to itself. You cant get the glue off the paint.
As I said you could use some UV epoxy to build up the grooves as a long term solution.
Sharpening, easy and fast with power tools but need to keep blade cool, more time intensive with stones or sandpaper. Have a look around the forum, many a sharpening thread exists.
Be careful with european WD40, it isn't the best rust protection (also, many threads about oil).
One thing I found with one of my black coloured Windlass swords, the paint might not be resistant to alcohol, so if you ever deep clean the sword with any solvents try not to hit the grip. Even WD40 might dissolve the paint when it comes fresh from the can.
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AndiTheBarvarian
Member
"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 10,331
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 16, 2024 23:54:34 GMT
Uhu Hart, and I just put a bit glue on the last cm of the grip band to fix it on the band, not on the grip.
So the glue type isn't really important.
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Post by cerius on Jan 18, 2024 18:41:06 GMT
Me I use super glue. You can get a gel version if you want to have more drying time. Be very careful and only glue the tape to itself. You cant get the glue off the paint. As I said you could use some UV epoxy to build up the grooves as a long term solution. Sharpening, easy and fast with power tools but need to keep blade cool, more time intensive with stones or sandpaper. Have a look around the forum, many a sharpening thread exists. Be careful with european WD40, it isn't the best rust protection (also, many threads about oil). One thing I found with one of my black coloured Windlass swords, the paint might not be resistant to alcohol, so if you ever deep clean the sword with any solvents try not to hit the grip. Even WD40 might dissolve the paint when it comes fresh from the can. I used WD40 just for cleaning. Then I applied vaseline. I read that should be good conservant. Will have to look up some UV epoxy. I don’t have any experience with it. Thank you for all your advice. |
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Post by cerius on Jan 18, 2024 18:42:46 GMT
Uhu Hart, and I just put a bit glue on the last cm of the grip band to fix it on the band, not on the grip. So the glue type isn't really important. Thank you, I’ll try it. |
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