Windlass Steelcrafts - The Sword we have chosen to represent Windlass is the Shrewsbury Sword (500768) Normally around $165, but currently on sale for $110. The crossguard and pommel are solid steel with a wooden handle wrapped in black leather. Everything is held into place by a round nut screwed onto the threaded tang (shown left).

The Shrewsbury Sword is very light and quick with a balance point of 3-1/2 inches and weights 2.5 pounds. The handle is long enough for one or two handed use (the bottom hand does rest on the pommel), but the taper of the blade makes it very light, which allows it to be used in one hand easily. The blade has a satin finish, which is covered in a clear coat lacquer to help prevent rusting. Windlass Swords come un-sharpened, though Arms of Valor, Ltd. allows you to choose a sharpening option at an additional charge for many of the Windlass Swords. The Shrewsbury will be sharpened for the tests. The scabbard that comes with this sword is leather with steel tip and throat.

Generation 2 - The Sword we have chosen to represent Generation 2 is the Lucerne Sword (IP-077-2) priced at $239. The crossguard and pommel are solid steel with a wooden handle wrapped in black leather. What sets this sword and most Generation 2 Swords apart from others in this price range is the peened pommel. The tang runs through the handle and pommel and is pounded into a round peen.

The Lucerne Sword is light and quick with a balance point of 2-1/4 inches and weighs 3 pounds. The handle is long enough for one or two handed use (both hands will fit on the grip), but the taper of the blade makes it very light, which allows it to be used in one hand easily. The blade is highly polished and the newer Gen 2 Swords do not show grind marks as the previous swords. Most of the Generation 2 Swords come standard with a razor sharp edge (except for the blunt line and the Brian Boru Sword). The scabbard that comes with this sword is wood covered with leather with steel tip and throat.

Paul Chen - The Sword we have chosen to represent Paul Chen is the Hand and a Half Sword (SH2034) priced at $270. The crossguard and pommel are solid stainless steel with a wooden handle wrapped in black leather. The tang appears to be peened, but the visible portion is very small, we did not take this sword apart to see if the tang was as narrow as the peened portion looks. If there is any weakness in the tang it will be found during our testing.

The Hand and a Half Sword weighs 3lbs 4oz, but the blade feels just a little tip heavy with a balance point of 5-1/2 inches. Both hands almost fit the grip, but about half the palm rests on the pommel. The blade has a satin finish with a sharp edge. This sword will not require any further sharpening for the practice cutting. The scabbard that comes with this sword is wood covered with leather with steel tip and throat.

 

Valiant Armory - Has been withdrawn from the comparison tests. This short review will stand, but no further testing will be done with the Valiant Armory. The Sword we have chosen to represent Valiant Armory is the Mercenary Sword (54-081) priced at $166. The crossguard and pommel are solid stainless steel with a wooden handle. The pommel is screwed on to the threaded tang.

The Mercenary Sword feels very heavy and has a blance point of 1 inch, but weighs 6 pounds overall. This is a two handed sword with a very large pommel, but even so the overall weight makes this sword a bear to swing. The blade is polished, but grind marks are clearly visible. The edge is slightly sharp, but is not razor sharp. We are going to test it without adding any further edge to the blade. The scabbard that comes with this sword is leather.

Cutting Tests Page 3