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Post by dchisenh on Jan 22, 2019 20:28:31 GMT
I’m not going to say much, as there is no changing some of yall’s minds, and there is no real point in doing so anyways. I’ll say that I agree with zabazagobo and definitely echo his sentiment. Seems pretty clear to me.
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Post by dchisenh on Jan 22, 2019 14:59:56 GMT
I can see both sides of the argument - it costs a lot for the company to eat the shipping, but they did screw up on it, so they are responsible for the screw up. In my opinion, they should have at least eaten like half of the shipping. On the other hand, the OP didn't handle it well. But, KoA is a company. I don't think the CS rep handled it well either, I mean I've had around 7 Windlass swords from ACC, MRL, Second Hand, and KoA and none ever had scratches like that, or the weird warped edges, which honestly if I made that screw up I would pick up shipping for the return, which shows up for me at $15.36, times two so $30.72, if a P.O. Box the shipping total comes to $49.20. If KoA can't afford to eat that based on their own mistake, they are dying as a business financially. I say this as someone who has had to spend about 120 dollars out of pocket making returns to KoA for issues that either should have been caught out of the gate or described in the ad copy. I totally see why, and agree with ulmaer's upset over the ordeal. I would probably be just as upset, and indeed in the returns I've done with other vendors have been very upset as well. In regards to reviews not being posted - I've written 5 reviews on 4 Windlass and 1 USI sword(s), none were posted. Two of these products I can verified having bought from KOA, the rest from ACC/MRL. Not all were negative either. It's a messy situation I think, but KoA should have accepted the issues as their fault, and the OP should have treated it like a emotionless business robot (which the CS rep isn't but I'm sure they were worked to the bone over the nearing Christmas order season) and gone for an exchange. That's my opinion, I understand the OP's stance on principle and to an extant I agree with it. Most Windlass swords I've gotten have been good and I haven't received anything as bad as the OP pictured, but I did get a few duds. One of the first swords I bought was a deal of the day from MRL, a Sword of Roven. I loved the way it handled, but in the guard there were visible pieces of unincorporated slag...really looked bad. I had ordered it sharpened, so someone had to have seen it prior to shipping. I called MRL up, explained it, emailed a picture and was promptly given a return label and refund (which their terms say would happen if there was a defect). No problem and case closed. Another item was a sword cane from ACC. I can't remember what that one was called off the top of my head, but the blade was severely stained and rusted, plus the tip was bent. It looked like someone at the warehouse had used it to stab those ever-present hanging pork shoulders they have all over the place and didn't clean it when they sheathed it. As for shipping, it looked ok from the outside so I can see how it made it past the shipping folks. Again, a few pictures, a polite phone call and it was on it's way back to them via return label and a refund was in my account, as per their policy. This was an Arbedo, if I remember correctly a recently commissioned small batch for KoA. There's always the possibility one or two may have had a few wayward hammer marks or unevenness in the blade that could have been accentuated with a poor sharpening job, since this wasn't a run-of-the-mill sword for Windlass. That said, I think it was a mistake for KoA to ship it like that. If at the moment he received the sword, the OP took pictures and expressed his dissatisfaction with KoA over it, without angling for a discount or posting a profanity-containing review, my experience with KoA leads me to suspect he'd likely have had a smoother interaction and probably gotten a return label from them for a refund or exchange. I have NO idea if that would have happened, it's just my guess based on my past experiences with KoA. To me, the condition of the sword could have either been due to Windlass or KoA or both, there's no real way of knowing, but I don't think KoA should have shipped it out that way. I think the OP didn't handle the situation well, was angling for too much and caused KoA to fall back on their default written rules and policy. Even then the OP has a remedy to get a refund or replacement, which is why at the end of the day I don't fault KoA. Again, like I said previously, I have had great experiences with KoA and will continue to in the future. This one post, where the OP just stated his goal for the original post here is to change our minds about KoA, isn't going to change that for me.
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Post by dchisenh on Jan 21, 2019 20:56:22 GMT
Okay guys, I'm pretty fed up with the lynch mob forming on this thread.
First off, yeah, he lost his cool and should've been more polite with his correspondence. No question about that, he even admits fault. Moving on.
nddave the thing is that they just botched the sharpening on this sword. Look at the pictures. Tell me they did a good job. Not being rude, just direct, as you are with the OP. Windlass has flaws. I always recommend them with serious caveats, as you do, as most of us do. They have hammer marks and that's no big deal at all, but some of the issues with this sword are just atypically awful for a Windlass. The way the edge waves qualifies as a scratch and dent or munitions grade sword, the specific listing for swords discounted this way on KoA mention these exact characteristics seen on this sword.
@ dchisenh I don't think it has anything to do with being spoiled by free returns as expecting customer service. Everyone recommends KoA because they "take the time to inspect items before they ship" and "have excellent quality control". NONE of that is seen with this sword. KoA messed up, and because everyone recommends them because they inspect their products prior to shipping to screen for defects, the expectation is that is what occurs. That did not happen here, and the fact that their website directly states they inspect items before shipment...I fully understand why the OP is ticked off.
Here's the thing y'all. Windlass makes budget swords. No questions there. People often just recommend them without attaching caveats to the quality you can reasonably expect. People get annoyed because they feel they are mislead. I've seen this time and time again. We all need to do a better job of including the critiques of a product rather than just point blank recommending it. I sure as heck don't expect perfection from any sword, they're hand made, they won't be perfect. But if I received a sword that had the issues the OP photographed (please ignore the emails, since that's what everyone is focusing on) I'd be ticked off.
I've seen everyone critique swords of various make, Darksword, Valiant Armoury, Hanwei, etc., etc. for similar flaws as seen on this sword, how such things are unacceptable on a brand new sword, without being used, on dozens of threads here over the years. Fact of the matter is this is actually a screw job by KoA, an atypical one to be honest, but it is on them. That shipping makes returns prohibitive is a huge pain, but when KoA as a vendor directly solicits quality control, and everyone sings their praises for inspecting swords for issues, this just cements why its absurd that KoA wouldn't at least issue a partial refund or SOMETHING as a workaround. I've gotten better service from Hanbon Swords on Ebay, and you all know how low an opinion I have of them.
So yes, this reaction to the OP is in my view completely absurd. As justified as critiques of his email correspondence is (I mean really, he could have handled that a bit better, as he admitted), I just am stunned how people are just failing to comprehend why the OP is so frustrated with a defective product. Well, with the exception of William Swiger and some others, we seem to be on the same page.
Sorry for my rant, I just became exasperated by the hostility on this thread. Absurdity! Absurdity I say! (Channels Holg powers, turns blue instead of green, gets confused, runs away)
Zaba, not sure why you're getting so upset.
1) My Amazon comment was made in general, as an observation of how people have come to expect certain things with regards to returns made popular by one of the most massive mega companies the world has ever seen, that just aren't feasible from smaller businesses.
2) My recommendations of KoA have been made simply by two things: Price and my personal experiences. I never claimed they visually inspect everything they ship out.
I've seen enough dissatisfied online 'hit' pieces over the years that I take them mostly in stride. The OP's post originally sounded like one and given the emails provided and my own experiences with KoA, my opinion is that the OP was offered a refund or exchange based on KoA's well-established policies and instead tried less-than-tactfully to extract a discount from them. When he was rebuffed, he chose to post his experience here. Whether his intentions in doing so was to harm KoA or to educate other sword buyers, I'm not psychic so I'll never know but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt to say it was the latter.
Going forward, OP as well as everyone who reads this should be aware of a company's return policies prior to ordering, that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar when it comes to dealing with customer service, budget items are priced accordingly for a reason and that even a well-respected company can screw up.
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Post by dchisenh on Jan 21, 2019 14:35:08 GMT
Yea sorry man, I see nothing wrong with their responses to you or anything thats actually denying responsibility for the sharpening job. They do deny they have any responsibility for any of the usual sub $300 market quality control issues and even go to explain that such issues as hammer marks and scratching as well as pommels being misaligned or gaurds being slightly loose are not their responsibility. Seems to me you did get hot before you even responded as your first email asks if your review had posted yet. Seems you wanted that negative review on the site, and for what? Obviously to please yourself for being upset. You're whole "get a discount" scheme is where you start loosing all credentials and your emails prove this more. Face it you were more pissedoff over the whole "I want a discount" scheme getting denied than you were the sharpening job. It reads pretty clearly in your Emails. Yea I get you were unsatisfied with the sharpening job as well as the fact you got a few imperfections. Guess what? thats the sub $300 market where quality control tends to slip or sacrifices are made to keep the price points. This forum and site has been around for over 10 years and literally 99% of discussion revolves around what to expect at specific price points. Pretty much don't buy a Windlass expecting a Albion or even dont think a $60 "carbon steel" katana is a $300 Hanwei Katana simply because both have the same tsuba guard and black ito wrap. Sorry man, I know you posted this thread looking for sympathy but really it just shows how wrong you are. The emails didn't help you at all, if anything they've made me less sympathetic for you and more sympathetic for the KoA reps. I mean look at your thread title "good sword bad experience"? Shouldn't it be bad sword too? I mean your pics do show a lot of extra scratches and yea they more than likely came from the sharpening service they offer. Overall with the rest of the issues, again very minor and to be expected in the price point. From between this thread and your emails it seems you're tend to be aggressively irrational and overreaching. Sorry you got so upset over this but seriously was it really worth getting this upset over to post slandering reviews? Maybe this thread and the KoA situation is best to be taking as a learning point for you both in your sword enthusiasm and public behaviors. Just saying. Pretty much my sentiments exactly. I've noticed people have gotten spoiled from Amazon to expect free returns when in reality returning items like swords could erase a small businesses profits in no time. Plus, it seems like from your email you were angling for a discount that KoA clearly states on their website they do not do. I don't know what the review was like, but considering all the reviews KoA allows (even ones that are honestly 'bad' reviews) and your own admissons you were pissed off and used profanity at least on the first one, I can't help but get the impression your review could have been an attempt to 'punish' them. I'm glad you came here to share your experience and provided all the evidence you could, thank you for that. Taking all that into consideration, I'll still be buying from them in the future.
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Post by dchisenh on Jan 21, 2019 4:38:21 GMT
KoA is my go-to vendor and I've returned 2 or 3 swords over the years, but that was due to the fact that they didn't fit me like I expected and it was early in my sword collecting so I couldn't easily look at the specs to know. Never had a problem with them on the returns, quick turn around and a refund was sent lickity-split.
After reading the email exchanges, I don't see what the problem is. They offered a refund for the sword AND sharpening OR a replacement sharpened version of the same sword, which I would imagine would likely include a double-check on the job to make sure it was up to snuff. That's excellent customer service in my book.
I can't think of another small business that would allow you to keep a product you claim is defective and then give a discount on a different product that you may or may not have another problem with? That's extending the problem, not solving it.
Additionally, you failed to mention the timetable this occurred. Was this right before, during, or after Christmas?
FYI, in the future, you'll likely get better customer service from any company if your patient, polite, and don't leave negative, inaccurate reviews with profanity in them.
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Post by dchisenh on Jan 16, 2019 18:53:29 GMT
Behold the hi-point 9MM. Shot one this evening in and was disgusted, It wasn't even fun to shoot in terms of things that go bang. Burn that abomination! So, so many better 9mm semi's out there. There is no excuse for that to exist.
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Post by dchisenh on Nov 2, 2018 13:43:26 GMT
I do have some swords around, I have a sword of altair knockoff, a united cutlery sting replica, and a windlass oakeshott variant, the windlass is decent but I really do like the idea of an all north american sword and something with a slightly shorter blade for something more nimble, seeing as the windlass is about 33 inches long. The arms and armor malaspina looks like a goood compromise between the crusader from darksword for me Good, it sounds like you know what you're looking for! Since you mentioned wanting something nimble, I really enjoy my Kingston Arms XIV. I have one of the first run "mistakes" with the mirror polished blade and I've had Steven Huerta rewrap the grip and dye it and the scabbard a nice chocolate brown. It handles like a dream and it looks great because of the INCREDIBLE work Steven did, he's amazing! I know it's not quite what you're looking for, but I've had really good luck with everything I've gotten from the Kingston Arms line, and Hanwei in general, if you're on a budget. Otherwise, if you ask around here, there are some VERY talented bladesmiths on this board who I'm sure can make you the sword of your dreams! Good luck on your search and be sure to let us know what you decide on and what you think of it!
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Post by dchisenh on Oct 30, 2018 15:43:55 GMT
Tdiamante does amazing work. If I had the cash, I'd commission a sword from him in a heartbeat!
As for DSA, I'm not sure how the most current batch of swords are made, but my very first sword was from them and was very heavy, poorly balanced and a pain to sharpen. It looked cool, but having handled well-balanced swords since then, I'm glad I sold it and wouldn't recommend it.
One thing I didn't see in your posts is whether or not this will be your first sword or whether you already have a few. I've seen quite a few people show up here looking for the "perfect" first sword and once they get it, they find it doesn't fit them well or decide later they like a different style altogether and then sell that "perfect" sword at a loss.
I'd recommend buying a few well reviewed budget examples of sword types you like to get a better feel for what fits you. For example, I've always liked rapiers, but of the examples I've bought over the years, I've sold them all because at the end of the day they don't fit me well and when I've needed the money they rise to the top of the chopping block. Oddly enough, I originally had no interest in Viking swords but as soon as I held a Hanwei Cawood, I instantly knew I'll never sell it and it's one of my all-time favorites. That one sword has led me to look at wide-fullered dark age blades in a whole different light.
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Post by dchisenh on Oct 25, 2018 16:56:38 GMT
Probably trying to move them quickly for Halloween.
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Post by dchisenh on Jul 26, 2018 15:51:02 GMT
Ease of use is a valid point I think, but not so much for homicides. Blades are equally efficient at killing when it’s done with the element of surprise or against unarmed people, and usually are the preferred weapon in developing countries and countries with strict gun laws (most asian countries come to mind, with soaring knife crime rates). If you were to ask me which country would I deem safer, the UK or the USA, I’d probably say the USA mostly because the ratio of gun crime isn’t nearly as high as the UK’s knife crime ratio. You all know of England’s supposed knife problem (London is particularly problematic at 137 knife crimes per 100,000 population). Assume for a moment that the only regulation that exists is a total ban on guns (and assume that it actually works). You would have me defend myself and my family from someone using a knife, who will likely ambush me, with my bare fists? Or hey even if I bring my own knife for defense, I’ll be getting into a knife to knife close quarters fight with a hardened criminal? I do a lot of knife vs knife training and I’m telling you, no one wins in a knife fight. So I much prefer having the ability to carry a tool that can more quickly end a fight from a safe distance. Besides, if the guy doesn’t want me dead, I’m less likely to get shot than stabbed (even gun control advocates will admit that amp.businessinsider.com/images/5a860c28d0307219008b45d4-750-872.png). So for violent crime, I’d say knives lead guns worldwide because they are less restricted, easily hidden, and encourage more physical contact between criminal and victim. Heck if it’s ease of killing, cars are far more efficient (and in fact, more dangerous and fatal). The bigger problem relating to guns in my book is the ease of suicide, which also directly relates to mental illness. And that, in my view, is the issue the US must face. They far and away lead suicide by gun stats, and that’s troubling. While suicide rates are overall higher in asian countries, their lead is significantly reduced by the USA’s free access to firearms. It’s a more complex problem that isn’t as strongly pushed for solving by both left, right, center, and everything in between. I agree with you completely that knife crime is higher around the world, mainly due to strict gun laws in Eastern societies. I also agree that it's harder to defend against a knife attack either bare-handed or with a knife instead of a gun. That's compounded when you consider the frequency of younger, armed criminals seeking to rob/harm an older person, with much less strength and reaction time. For many, a lightweight small/medium caliber handgun is their only effective means of defense after arthritis and age catch up to them.
I disagree with the suicide comment though. Just a few months ago, a relative of a relative was placed on a psychiatric hold because he threatened to kill himself. They confiscated the guns in his home and within a few days of being released, he hung himself. I don't say this to upset anyone on here and if I have, I'm sorry for that. I'm just saying that if someone wants to kill themselves, in my experience, they will. I think the statistics behind guns as a means of suicide is just a byproduct of their availability. Again, we can look to Eastern cultures where guns are rare, but suicide is high by many other means. The issue is mental illness, not the tools used.
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Post by dchisenh on Jul 26, 2018 15:11:06 GMT
Im not sure killing with a gun counts as misuse. Thats the primary function of a gun after all. Also the "everyone is stupid but me" mentality is a great way to perpetuate a debate without swaying anybody. Both sides should be able to see the points of the other side even if they dont value those points as highly. For example, I can appreciate that current gun laws in America do provide high levels of personal freedoms, while also personally placing a higher value on public safety and new regulations that can foster it. Not necessarily. Target shooting/practice is a legitimate sport and a past-time enjoyed by generations. There are guns that have been designed from the ground-up for just that reason, not with 'killing' in mind. Yes, they could be misused and kill someone, but so can window blinds and detergent packets.
But, leaving that aside, there are two factors at play which make gun banning/confiscation 'stupid', in my view.
First: You can't legislate away crime. Criminals don't follow laws, by definition. The only people who will stop buying guns or turn in the ones they have will be those who are law-abiding, which in 99.99999% of the time means they are losing their main ability to defend themselves.
Second: If someone decides they want to kill people, they will find a way. I'd rather take my chances as a law-abiding armed US citizen against an armed criminal than try to diffuse a bomb or stop a truck.
Additionally, look at other countries that have gone the way of disarming their citizens. There's a proportionate increase in vehicular mass murder, bombings, stabbings, poisonings, etc...and that's in the "Westernized" countries that still maintain a normal rule of law. The last century has shown when populations are disarmed and dictators rise to power, genocides have occurred way, way too many times to be a coincidence.
I'm thankful the founding father's here in the US saw the need to enshrine a right to self-defense and the ability to overthrow a despotic government from the start. I'd encourage anyone else around the globe to work to establish their own, through whatever system of government they have.
Banning guns, swords, knives, or anything else will only shift the crime statistics higher for crimes committed with easily obtainable weapons, while keeping them in the hands of criminals and OUT of the hands of law-abiding citizens who need to be able to protect themselves. When seconds count, the police are often minutes away.
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Post by dchisenh on Jun 4, 2018 15:31:38 GMT
... The Kingston model issues. ... Issues? Please elaborate. The first round (with black grip) had issues and were sold as such but we corrected all those a while ago. Haven't heard anything but praise regarding the Type XIV and XVIII we currently have on offer from Gus. Genuinely curious. Thanks! Blake I managed to nab one of the first round XIV with "issues" and I absolutely love it! It's so nimble and well-balanced I sent it to Steven Huerta for a grip rewrap and scabbard redye to dark brown with the intention of using a Caswell copper electroplating kit on the pommel, guard and chape. I managed to get the chape and pommel well plated but couldn't manage to get the guard done nicely, so I sanded off that attempt and put that project on hold. I even though my first plan didn't work, I love the blade (mirror-polished 9620! Hell yeah!) and the scabbard and regrip look great (Steven did an AMAZING job!), I still consider it one of my favorite pieces. Ironically, it's this XIV that is probably going to keep me from buying one of the new APOC pieces. It's so handy I have a hard time thinking the broadsword or gladius would out do it in the handling department. I also really wish the blade length on these APOC series pieces were a bit longer. I imagine that would likely drive up the price quite a bit because they'll require longer stock to start with, but I have a hard time justifying a purchase, even if I like the design, with a blade shorter than I'd like. That said, I'll probably end up picking up the gladius because it keeps calling to me.
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Post by dchisenh on Apr 12, 2018 20:53:48 GMT
Faldarin: That is correct. Was a fun build too. Glad you think it turned out good. Sometimes I still consider doing an oxblood leather wrap instead of a tsukamaki dchisenh: Its my baby. Was a birthday gift I was encouraged to customize Random: Wait... You have a basket hilt Katana? I never heard of this before. But agreed, the Danu is huge. Much bigger than I expected, much to my welcomed surprise Oxblood leather wrap...DO IT!
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Post by dchisenh on Apr 12, 2018 15:12:22 GMT
Comparison. The Danu Sword is quite a bit heavier, but it lacks fullers That katana-hybrid thing looks awesome! Talk about stealing the show! I saw the posts above about it and I actually think it's pretty cool. I'm a sucker for a complex hilt. 😀
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Post by dchisenh on Apr 2, 2018 19:25:25 GMT
If you want a tough "forged" blade get it from me. I agree. Fallen makes incredible blades at very reasonable prices! I managed to snag a lightweight cutter from him that is very sharp and fast as lightning, excellent attention to detail. I'd check with him to see what he can do before you go the ZT route, if I were you.
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Post by dchisenh on Mar 2, 2018 21:16:28 GMT
Huh..you learn something new every day! Thanks for clearing that up Corvus and Andi!
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Post by dchisenh on Mar 2, 2018 16:42:09 GMT
Excellent review!
After seeing pictures of your two-handed saber, I'm pretty sure yours was someones pet project because it's vastly different than mine!
The grip is completely different, the grind down on the spine because of a flaw ended up reducing weight and moved the PoB back and of course the ghost hammon. That's a really interesting sword!
The one I got from the S&D sale is EXACTLY like the images on the KoA website...the sword itself looks flawless. The only flaw is a scratch on the back of the leather sheath. I basically got a brand new sword for $100 off!
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Post by dchisenh on Mar 1, 2018 18:27:37 GMT
There's just something about a break-top revolver that just speaks to me. I guess it's an efficiency of design and the aesthetics I am really drawn to. I wish they'd come out with a modern design that could handle current +p ammo.
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Post by dchisenh on Mar 1, 2018 16:46:16 GMT
Well, it's clearly not a messer, a longsword, a rapier, etc... I understand how it isn't historically accurate, but when you have to decide what it looks like the most, I'd have to agree it's a gladius. I know both Fallen and Rhema can, and have, make better and more historic examples, but I've got to admit, I actually like this version from Condor. I dislike the name-stamp, though, but there's something utilitarian about the look of it I like. I won't be buying it...I might have about $75 worth of like for it, but no where near $175 worth of like! Here is mine... bought a week or so ago. It is worth every (censored) hard earned Eurocent - and we pay 219 Euros over here! It looks better and is much tougher than any cheaper production model i owned so far (one Valiant, one Gen2, two Windlass). The edge could be better (bevels) but it cuts - and it will keeell! And the handle is a little bit too thick; maybe i will do some filework here. But hey: NO modern brass, no (obvious) screws and nuts, no cracked wood (Valiant), no wavy blades (Windlass), and no bents during cutting (Gen2). Maybe i dont get it right and maybe i am overreacting, but lately i smell some slight breeze of sword snobism around here on SBG... know what? I just had a nice experience with a quite expensive custom sword from a "well-respected" smith which was utter crap for the price-level; we had the bent/misshaped blade, we had the no-distal-taper thing (which i dont care about too much), we had the fugly blade/crossguard gap, and we had the fake-peen... but hey, lets trample on well-made money-for-value swords... lets bash the china-stuff... the south-american stuff... had we started on the Philipines yet? Well, i dont care much about that whole "hysterical correctness", "too heavy" and "distal diaper" stuff - when a sword is cool, it is cool! Period! When a maker is cool, he is cool! Period! Holg, I'm in no way being snobbish, I'm actually being cheeeeep! . I actually like the gladius a lot, I just have very, very little money for hobbies so unless it's something that seriously knocks my socks off OR is such a deal I can't pass it up, I just can't justify the purchase.
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Post by dchisenh on Feb 27, 2018 21:07:15 GMT
Incidentally, I just got my order yesterday evening. I will do a review shortly, but I am VERY pleased with the Euros I ordered. One of them, IMO, is worth more than a regular one, in spite of the scratch-and-dent. The other one was not functionally or aesthetically compromised at all - just kind of a funny story. I was extremely disappointed with the Crusader that I ordered, recently, but couldn't resist the price on these new ones. Glad I pulled the trigger. I received the two-handed saber from the S&D sale today and I'm very impressed as well. The only flaw a see is that the leather sheath has a scratch on the back of it that has been painted/inked over to cover it up. I was planning on saving for a real scabbard for it anyway, so it doesn't bother me one bit! The sword itself weighs in at 3 lbs 7 oz on the dot and like William Swiger mentioned, it's pretty well balanced and doesn't feel too heavy at all. The blade is spotless and really nice with crisp fullers that mirror each other perfectly on both sides. The handle is tight, comfortably thin and provides a nice length for leverage. All in all, I'm very pleased with both the sword and the deal!
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