cygnus
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Post by cygnus on Feb 23, 2024 17:26:10 GMT
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Post by fayebarca on Feb 23, 2024 17:41:59 GMT
100% fake. The first sword is from Hammer Shoppe Forge, and the second sword is from Castle Keep. The descriptions are also pretty funny — “This superb design Sword is hand forged. The blade of this Sword has a nice file work and is made of 512 Layers of Stainless Steel and High Carbon Steel with a hardness of 55-60 HRC. This robust Sword is lab tested under intense conditions, the balance and shape of this Sword ensure perfect grip.”
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cygnus
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Post by cygnus on Feb 23, 2024 18:27:37 GMT
Perfect. Thanks. I don't get what they think they can accomplish with a fake listing on Etsy. Their customer support will just issue a refund in the end. The shop has lots of actual sales. Scammers gonna scam, I guess.
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madirish
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Post by madirish on Feb 24, 2024 0:28:06 GMT
I can't imagine how ripped someone would be when they open the box and something totally different falls out of it...yeesh.
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Post by ranstone on Feb 24, 2024 3:05:03 GMT
Perfect. Thanks. I don't get what they think they can accomplish with a fake listing on Etsy. Their customer support will just issue a refund in the end. The shop has lots of actual sales. Scammers gonna scam, I guess. The human mind is highly sensitive to detecting bullcrap, If we'll listen to it. Well done for trusting your instinct and coming here to ask. That's literally what this forum is for. A guide for swordbuyers. Believe it or not, this is one of the #1 drop shipping scam trends. For example, sharpening stones/whetstones. 99% of the ones on Amazon that cost 50-100$ are actually 1-2$ whetstones you can buy on Alibaba.
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cygnus
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Post by cygnus on Feb 24, 2024 3:50:26 GMT
Perfect. Thanks. I don't get what they think they can accomplish with a fake listing on Etsy. Their customer support will just issue a refund in the end. The shop has lots of actual sales. Scammers gonna scam, I guess. The human mind is highly sensitive to detecting bullcrap, If we'll listen to it. Well done for trusting your instinct and coming here to ask. That's literally what this forum is for. A guide for swordbuyers. Believe it or not, this is one of the #1 drop shipping scam trends. For example, sharpening stones/whetstones. 99% of the ones on Amazon that cost 50-100$ are actually 1-2$ whetstones you can buy on Alibaba. Yea. Yikes, and oh well. On the flip side both of those have reignited the itch for a high end viking sword. Gonna have to save my shekels for something half as nice.
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Post by ranstone on Feb 24, 2024 4:53:07 GMT
IDK man, the Albion Squire line "Viking sword" is minimalist, but somthing to brag about owning in design and functionality, and it's like, 580 USD. No scabbard, and a 500 day waiting period, but Albion is the Ferrari of swords, even the squire line. The squire line of Albion, if you're unaware, is less the detailed line compared to the Next Generation line. Functionally, and quality-of-build-wise it's the same thing. Just shy of 600 is still expensive in this sad day and age of inflation, but it's an option. Top level swords don't have to be over 1 grand if you know where to look.
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madirish
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Post by madirish on Feb 24, 2024 16:42:54 GMT
They had 3 or 4 Viking era blades out at SoCal Swordfight....was drooling heavily.
BTW, I reported that semprini listing to Etsy and to Josh Branson (Hammer Forge)....also sent the vendor a note asking them to explain, lol...interested to see if I get a response.
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Post by ranstone on Feb 24, 2024 19:01:26 GMT
The listing was taken down about 8 hours ago.
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Post by treeslicer on Feb 24, 2024 23:02:52 GMT
The listing was taken down about 8 hours ago. The second one is still there.
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madirish
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Post by madirish on Feb 24, 2024 23:03:00 GMT
The listing was taken down about 8 hours ago. I hadn't complained about the second one so I did try to send another note to them this morning to give them crap about the Castle Keep copy...but they blocked me, lol. So I complained to Etsy and Castle Keep a note about it.
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Post by eastman on Feb 25, 2024 0:58:28 GMT
Yea. Yikes, and oh well. On the flip side both of those have reignited the itch for a high end viking sword. Gonna have to save my shekels for something half as nice.
In addition to the standard Squire Line Viking, the 3 models Albion sells exclusively thru Viking Shield are worth a look (Clontarf, Vinland and Gotland)
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cygnus
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Post by cygnus on Feb 25, 2024 1:16:13 GMT
IDK man, the Albion Squire line "Viking sword" is minimalist, but somthing to brag about owning in design and functionality, and it's like, 580 USD. No scabbard, and a 500 day waiting period, but Albion is the Ferrari of swords, even the squire line. The squire line of Albion, if you're unaware, is less the detailed line compared to the Next Generation line. Functionally, and quality-of-build-wise it's the same thing. Just shy of 600 is still expensive in this sad day and age of inflation, but it's an option. Top level swords don't have to be over 1 grand if you know where to look. beautiful to be sure. the price is nice, even if the wait time isn't . I would say that I am looking for something a little more elaborate than functional, a decorated grip pommel and hand guard, and as a bonus pattern welded blade, or engraved or something extra. bump a few points off of function for form. Some day I'll spend a few grand on a custom Something like these with a damascus/pattern welded blade www.kultofathena.com/product/darksword-einar-viking-sword/www.kultofathena.com/product/darksword-armory-the-urnes-stave-viking-sword-brown-scabbard/www.kultofathena.com/product/del-tin-viking-sword/even a deepeeka gets close, if only they'd let me mix and match www.kultofathena.com/product/rus-viking-sword/www.kultofathena.com/product/dyback-viking-sword-with-damascus-blade/both handle grips are sorely lacking imo For now I was looking for something cheap that I could do my own wire wrapped handle on like (hate pinterest, can't find the orignal). This style pommel is also appealing, more so than the simple versions such as the albion. :
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Post by ranstone on Feb 25, 2024 12:38:59 GMT
I'll go through my opinions, but please note, I have not handles any of these, and anything I say is just my previous knowledge of the companies. Consider my opinions, but I am mortal, and the more I learn, the less I realize I know. So, let's talk about the Darksword Armory, Einar and the Urnes for a moment. I am a little biased against Darksword, because in 2014, they used to be overbuilt and heavy. They've gotten a LOT better, and the Einar, being newer I am told by word of mouth is quite good. My #1 complaint of DSA is their guards are brittle, but since the Einar and the Urnes have bronze fittings that are short and stubby, this isn't an issue. Bronze is soft, and will never snap at that thickness. Because of their more refined, less clunky build compared to older models, and the fact that they don't suffer from DSA's (IMHO) brittle guard issues, I think this is an option. Skalalgrim pre-reviewed the Urnes, but he mistakenly calsl it the Oslo, since there was a miscommunication issue as the model wasn't named yet. Look up "Darksword Has Gotten Much Better! [Read Description for Update]" on his channel. (I forget if SBG does or does not like me linking YouTube links, so yeah. Look that vid up, you'll find it.) Del Tin used to be the go to for affordable entry level swords. Modern competition has become fierce though. Also, correct me if I'm wrong someone, but Del Tin at least used to come dull, without exception. Deepeeka is frankly a little too budget for my taste. Their thing is bringing affordable swords to the common man, which if they can do, good for them, but I think they would benefit from raising their prices and quality about 200$ worth. eastman is right, take a look at the Albion Squire lines sold through Viking shield. Viking shield dot com is the website, and look up the "Albion Squire Line Vinland Sword" "Albion Squire Line Gotland Sword" and the "Albion Squire Line Clontarf Sword" Heres a picture of the Vinland, which is the most showy of the 3. (670$) I would personally buy the Albion Squire line Vinland from Vikingshield. I can very confidently recommend that. My next recommendation would be the Darksword armory Urnes. Be aware, DSA is often more overbuilt than history, and the Urnes is the exception rather than the norm. The Urnes is mind-numbingly gorgeous. As an Albion owner, I really do recommend you taste the seductive nectar of Albion though. It feels good, knowing if you had unlimited money, you're incapable of buying better performance in all of human history and from a steel quality, and performance standpoint, that is not an exaggeration.
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cygnus
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Post by cygnus on Feb 25, 2024 15:12:58 GMT
I would personally buy the Albion Squire line Vinland from Vikingshield. I can very confidently recommend that. My next recommendation would be the Darksword armory Urnes. Be aware, DSA is often more overbuilt than history, and the Urnes is the exception rather than the norm. The Urnes is mind-numbingly gorgeous. As an Albion owner, I really do recommend you taste the seductive nectar of Albion though. It feels good, knowing if you had unlimited money, you're incapable of buying better performance in all of human history and from a steel quality, and performance standpoint, that is not an exaggeration. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Albion is of course tempting, but the wait (2 years?) Leaves me with a burning hole in the meantime. Decisions decisions.
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Post by eastman on Feb 25, 2024 16:22:40 GMT
I have 2 of the Albion Squire Line swords they make for Viking Shield. The Clontarf was bought from the classifieds here. The Vinland (sharp) was bought direct from Viking Shield (who are located very close to me, but they save my wallet by not having a retail storefront which is similar to Kult of Athena one state south of here).
The Squire Lines can be purchased as re-enactor blunt or sharp. Although they don't come into stock very often at Viking Shield, they do come up for sale in the classifieds here from time to time. I will probably buy the Gotland at some point just to complete the set.
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madirish
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Post by madirish on Feb 25, 2024 16:26:57 GMT
If you really are looking for a project sword....look at the Deepeekas. Cheap price point, you won't feel bad if you eff something up. You could even work on the blade to get better distal taper if you want.
If you really are looking for a finished product that you are not going to mod...then any of the Albions will be nice.
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