Knife of Aragorn Update -- myArmoury.com

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Mon 24 May, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject: Knife of Aragorn Update

A few days ago I posted that I had won an e-bay auction that netted me the knife of Aragorn. The knife arrived today and some of the photos are listed below. Let me begin by saying that I assumed this was the UC version simply because I didn't think anyone else made them. However, the knife arrived in a brown box and NOT the UC packaging. Let me say also that nowhere on the auction did the seller say, imply, or claim this was the United Cutlery version. What I got was a large knife without a lot of presence and with the word "PAKISTAN" plasterd on the blade. The fittings are really very cheap can obviously badly cast. The sheath is covered in cheap suede leather and the knife fits poorly. There appears to be a threaded tang as there is a large gap in the pommel piece. I am not sure how the handle attaches at the moment so if get it off I'll let everyone know. The knife did come with the painted plaque offered by the UC version and the hardware to hang it. At this point I want to ask if anyone has the UC version that was bought in the retail UNited Cutlery box? Mine even came with a poster!

Now two things come to mind. If this is the United Cutlery version they should be sued for false advertising. This is NOT the knife pictured on their and every other website I have seen. Nowhere did the several websites I perused have a disclaimer that the photo was the actual movie prop superimposed on the UC placque. If this is the case, then I would never buy a United Cutlery item ever again. The second scenario is that this is a cheap Pakstani ripoff that the seller got for about $20 in bulk and sent them with the UC accessories or copies of the UC accessories. If the latter is the case I would say beware! I am just glad I did not give the $125-$250 I saw the UC version going for on at least 5 different websites.

I would very much appreciate if someone who bought the UC knife of Aragorn, in it's original United Cutlery box, could confirm that the knife I have is or is not the UC version.

Joel Chesser · Posted: Mon 24 May, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

Oh man, im so sorry to here about this.
Was this the sword pictured on the Ebay auction? cus if it wasn't then it would occur to me that you might have a case against the seller for false advertising.
Have you decided what to do with the piece?

Steve Fabert · Posted: Mon 24 May, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately ripoffs of United Cutlery LOTR designs are quite common. If this one was not advertised as the authorized UC version, you can be sure it isn't.

Here' s a picture of the authorized UC version. http://www.1sks.com/images/united/uc-1371WGNB.jpg

If the item is in fact an authorized LOTR product, you will find an etched label with the Lord of the Rings copyrighted logo on the blade.

Joel Whitmore

Alexi Goranov · myArmoury Alumni

Well that sound all too familiar!!!!!

I ordered, at the time, the Narsil sword from a questionable seller. The photo was the one from UC, so I assumed that this is the UC product. Well It was a china made rip off!!!! On the top of it all they sent me the wrong sword. The good part was that I could return it for a full refund!!!!.

The point is that sellers use the original (decent looking) photos of the UC products to lure people into buying cheeper knock-offs.

Buyers beware!!!!!!

Alexi

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Mon 24 May, 2004 6:40 pm Post subject: Cavet emptor

Dave Hahn · Posted: Mon 24 May, 2004 6:53 pm Post subject:

hey joel,

sorry to say but the auction's fine print indicates that it is not the UC version. was the fine print missing when you ordered it?

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Tue 25 May, 2004 4:35 am Post subject: Didn't see the fine print

Steve Fabert · Posted: Tue 25 May, 2004 4:43 am Post subject:

Joel, it's a hard lesson to learn, but the earlier you learn it the better off you will be as an internet buyer. ALWAYS know both your seller and his product. To avoid ripoffs and misunderstandings, communicate accurately via email so there will be a record of the statements made by both the buyer and the seller. What you see is not always what you get. Demand confirmation that you are buying what you want rather than some knockoff.

If you get no satisfaction from the seller or from EBay, consider contacting the Consumer Protection office in the seller's home state. Usually there's a division of the state's Attorney General's office that handles consumer ripoff complaints. Whatever they can do for you will be free, unlike the services of an attorney.

Timothy Gulics · Posted: Tue 25 May, 2004 8:15 am Post subject:

Definitely chalk this up to a learning experience. I believe that anyone selling the Pakistani knock-off cannot advertise it as a legit UC product (UC has really been cracking down on this), so they must put a disclaimer. Using the UC art, however, is just plain low.

If I were in this situation, I wouldn't keep the knife... I'd dispose of it in any way I could, because it would only remind me of how I was duped. I had that happen once and I tried to love the product I bought, but I just couldn't do it and had to get rid of it. But that's just me.

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Tue 25 May, 2004 10:16 am Post subject: You want it Tim?

James Sharpe · Posted: Wed 26 May, 2004 10:17 pm Post subject:

Joel.,
Sorry to hear about your purchase. I was waiting to see a review from you when I saw you post that you purchased this. I had the same thing happen to me about a year and a half ago when I was trying to purchase Sting. I hope you get some sort of resolve.

James

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Thu 27 May, 2004 5:00 am Post subject: Sorry to hear about yours James

Robert W. Betten

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Sat 29 May, 2004 5:26 am Post subject: UC Knife of Aragorn arrived!

Yesterday I had a little UPS package on my doorstep. The United Cutlery KNife of Aaragorn arrived and I must say that I am really impressed! First, the knife is sharp; not razor sharp but it does have an edge on it. The scabbard is really impressive with the bronze chape and locket very well executed and the knife fits tightly inside. I cannot tell what kind of tang the knife has but the literature lists it as "full tang". That only means that the tang extends the length of the handle but it does not indicate if it is a rat-tail tang or not. The entire knife feels very solid. As you can imagine from the shape of the blade, the weight is a little forward, but as this is not a sword the feel is one of heft and is not uncomfortable. I'll get some stats up this afternoon and some better photos. OVerall I am very impressed with the craftsmaship and attention to detail of this production piece.

Robert W. Betten · Posted: Sat 29 May, 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:

I'm looking forward to the reviews, maybe a pic of where the blade meets the handle? I love that knife and i'm considering it as a possible buy.

Joel Whitmore

It would seem that my luck with Aragorn-related knives is bad. When I took the blade outside to photograph it, I noticed a crack in the handle where the blade meets the handle. I have contacted the seller and I am confident they will make good on an exchange. I don't seem to be having any luck where this knife is concerned. And I absolutely LOVE this piece. BTW no cutting was done with the knife, I think it's just one of those things that happens sometimes.

Joel

Aaron Justice · Posted: Tue 01 Jun, 2004 4:48 am Post subject:

The etching in some of the photo's doesn't look half bad.

But if it is marked Pakistan, it's a fake for certain. Sorry you got ripped. I bought a sting sword the owner claimed was official, and that it had the box and everything with the certificate of authenticity.It had none of that.

Another time someone claimed he had a WitchKing sword that was an early prototype, so it didn't have the Untied Cutlery stamp on it. When I got it, it not only didn't have the UC stamp, it also wasn't acid etched. eBay sellers suck (except for me and a few select good ones).

Joel Chesser · Posted: Tue 01 Jun, 2004 7:34 am Post subject:

Any updates as to what is happening with the seller?

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Sat 12 Jun, 2004 9:27 pm Post subject: Defective UC design or materials?

Well Medieval Weapon Art sent me my second United Cutlery Knife of Aragorn. As you read in the above thread, the first one had a cracked handle. Well I took out the second one today, fresh from the box, and guess what...yep another cracked handle. This one has cracks above and below the blade as shown below, They are very small, but would probably get worse if I handled the knife. Now I am beginning to believe that this is a design defect as the top and bottom of the handle are VERY thin ( probably the thickness of a nickle). A combination of the long, heavy blade and the thin wood, I think, is causing the cracks. Anyone else have any trouble with this? At this point I think I'll just take my money back. This kinda breaks my heart as I love the overal design and implementatin of this knife. Cry

Ironically, the Pakastani rip-off has a rock solid handle. WTF?!

Joel