Kelvin
- Comment
In short: A robust blade with great value for money. 4.5/5
Longer Review:
This review is my personal opinion on the sword I purchased. It was the version with the narrow blade and I've used it for a little while now for the purpose of practicing form, drills and partner drills.
First off the sword came in a box with some holes and airbag like padding. I assume either the post service punched some holes inside to take a look at the content or the cross guard made the holes in transit. The sword wasn't sharp so it's packaging was good.
Out of the box the blade was well oiled. The fuller profile is not uniform and every line or edge on the blade is not straight, which is a good sign. The sword was "made by hand" and not an identical factory duplicate. The blade looks like it doesn't perfectly fit into the cross guard but I have a feeling it's because the guard was made for the wide blade.
The sword balances 15cm from the guard and has an almost full length fuller making it not so training-friendly. Basically it hits hard at the tip/top end and is a relatively stiff blade. It will not bend or flex much if you thrust it into something however it will take a slight set. It is after all a practical combat sword. It is not a floppy, wet fish. The blade does have a relatively thick edge and rounded tip for safety which is good but I believe it would be a great cutting sword when sharpened and given a cutting profile. There is ample space for a fine cutting edge. As mentioned above the blade does not have a fuller running full stretch. The fuller does not reach the base of the blade meaning it will not compromise the structural integrity in that section. If the sword fails, it will most likely not fail or break at the base. The blade has a very small, barely noticeable distal taper.
There's nothing much to say about the cross guard or pommel. They were a little scratched and very slightly deformed but that will happen with use anyway. Along with the blade they were not polished to the point of becoming reflective mirrors.
The reason I cannot give this sword a 5/5 stars is because of the grip. at one point in the grip, it is larger than the pommel and guard. Basically there was a bulge in the leather binding which has to be expected with this type of grip. However, that tiny bulge creates unnecessary friction with either the index or thumb making the sword uncomfortable to grip (hammer grip). Overall the grip isn't necessarily comfortable but it's better than having no grip.
When using the sword cuts, thrusts and pommel strikes feel very natural. There's nothing out of the ordinary. I find the stiff blade excellent for practicing form and drills. I personally would not use this sword for sparring because of its physical nature. However, this would make an excellent sword for re-enactments. It is safe enough for that purpose when protective gear/equipment is worn. When the sword strikes or is struck it does not become a wet fish. The sword does "feel" durable and is designed for that purpose but I do not personally clash swords often so I cannot give a reliable opinion in that regard. Also the specific type of steel is not mentioned in the description or the tempering if it has any. The sword's weight feels manageable but I personally would of liked it more if it were a little lighter. However, I use the sword for relatively different purposes compared to say, a re-enactor.
To conclude, the sword is robustly made and it's not a masterpiece but you get what you pay for, a practical combat sword. The grip needs to be changed or reworked as it is not not comfortable bare hand. Overall the sword is great value for money and I doubt you can find a better one for $95. 4.5/5
There is question I should of asked before purchasing. What type of steel is used to make this particular sword?