Not sure if this is the correct forum for this. Mods please relocate if need be.

I'm curious if anyone finds the Windlass 'India', 'Made in India' markings problematic, off putting. I must confess I find them annoying, especially on European styled repros.

Hey, at least I admit it.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Jon

Yeah, at least it's honesty in branding.

Plus, IME, Windlass's stickers and etched markings both come off easily enough.

As far as I remember windlass swords come with either stickers that can be peeled off, or like the above said, etched. The etched marking can be removed with sandpaper easily.

Oh and if anyone is curious of what Mahling said, he is probably referring to darksword armory. Pity I was eyeing their Mother of Dragon sword.

I don't like maker's marks of any kind on any of my collection- even from high end makers. I feel it is a distraction.

"Made in India" would be even worse.

Yep, the stickers can be just peeled off and any glue residue wiped off with acetone or alcohol. The etchings are also literally superficial and can be easily removed with a drop of oil and a grey scotchbrite pad (or similar fine or ultrafine scouring pad), no need even for sandpaper.

By the way, some of my Windlass swords do have unicorn style etching as a makers mark; does anybody now if those have a special meaning or mark a certain production period?

I find cleaning off the stickers or the etchings very easy. I usually use Metal-Glo or Simichrome to clean it up. I generally like Windlass' products, especially the more historical ones. Good swords at good prices.

My feeling is, nothing in my collection is meant to pass as a genuine antique, regardless of its level of historical accuracy. And that being the case, an unobtrusive maker's mark is not a problem. I understand that everyone has their own level of tolerance for that kind of thing, though.

When I come across a Windlass that's artificially aged and being sold as an antique, it does make me sorta wish they had some kind of identifier that was hard to remove. Doesn't need to be MADE IN INDIA, could be something in the style of a historical maker's mark or even just a decorative motif, just as long as it was stamped nice and deep.

Plenty of historical blades with proof marks among others. Doesn't really bother me, but if I ever plan on doing work to a blade, the Made in India gets sanded out.