Big Steel and Brass
The Good: It has a great look feel, and a fabulous deal for 5 pounds of crafted steel and brass. I can't believe they can even make the heavy duty scabbard for that price, much less the sword. It is So hard to get real solid cast & polished brass anymore, especially a huge hilt like this. Most guards and pommels are all just plated, unless you pay a fortune. In the Nepali store you pay more for a simple brass dinner plate than this whole sword. The Not so Good: In the old model, the blade was double edged, and triple fullered. This new model is single edged, and single fullered, but an inch longer, and, with the heavier scabbard, almost a full pound heavier than the old model. They also put heavy duty steel suspension rings, rather than the hoky split rings of the old model, which were little more than large key rings. I really like that. Sword for sword, the new model is A very reasonable trade off, but I actually prefer the double edged old one because it is more authentic. I don't think they have changed the catalog picture or description yet, so be forewarned if the picture still shows the old model. Overall it is a fabulous deal on a great sword. People go straight to it (and especially the older one) first in my wall of swords. Not sharp at all, but if you love it, you can sharpen it. Sharpen it by hand with a great big metal file if you want to keep it authentic. Also, If you really love it, an hour or two with a rat-tail file will sharpen up the edges inside all the pierced holes in the guard, and give it an even more crisp, clean, authentic look. After one winter buried in my garden, I had a sword dealer quite sure my old one is a real antique. If I were dishonest, I would have sold it to him and bought 5 more just like it from BudK. And No, I didn't, I just wanted a matched pair, which this one is not quite, but close enough when I get done working on it.
4.7 ( 9 reviews)
