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Michael Pearce
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PostPosted: Tue 11 Aug, 2009 11:14 am    Post subject: Improvements to the 'Tinker Line'         Reply with quote

OK- last night I received a new Tinker Line Longsword and a Tinker Line bastardsword directly from CAS/Hanwei. These were swords purchased through normal channels, not examples sent to me for review. The edges are quite different from the edges seen on the first run of production swords.

The Bastardsword still has a bevelled edge that becomes progressively sharper towards the tip, but it is a much finer and better finished bevelled edge and the improvement in cutting ability against 2L bottles is marked. I doubt that Mike Harris and some others will find this edge ideal but I now find this 'factory' edge acceptable. No, it won't reliably slice notebook paper but it slices 2L bottles like they aren't there.

The Longsword now has a 'rolled' or 'appleseed' edge and like the bastardsword it grows progressively sharper towards the tip. Like the bastardsword it won't reliably slice notebook paper but again it's a whiz against 2L bottles.

So the verdict is quite positive- you should not need to sharpen these swords to get very good performance cutting standard targets like 2L bottles or tatami mats. Undoubtedly some will want to refine this edge to suit their own tastes but now it should be a matter of 'touching up' the edge rather than re-sharpening. I bought the longsword for my own use and won't be sharpening it any further than it is; since I will be using it for cutting demonstrations you can take that as a sincere endorsement! The bastardsword is being bought by a customer for theatrical use and so I will be removing the edge and point- but if I were keeping it again I would leave it just as it is.

On other issues with the line- welded tangs. These are NOT supposed to be present and in fact they were NEVER supposed to be featured on these swords. Are the new swords welded? Honestly I can't tell; if they are they have concealed it well. If you are concerned remove the hilt and heat the threads and the first two inches of the tang to a blue-grey color with a torch- don't allow it to get to red-hot; this should eliminate almost all potential problems if there is a weld present. If any sword breaks at the juncture of the tang and thread return it for replacement- it is a warranty item. In fact ANY breakage of any kind should be reported directly to CAS/Hanwei and these reports will be forwarded directly to the top folks within the company. They really want to improve these swords and feed-back is vital to that effort.

The last issue- at least two swords have broken at the shoulder (the join of the blade and tang) as a result of this area not being rounded enough. I am pleased to report that both of these swords are well rounded in this area. Kudos to Paul and company for getting on top of this!

People keep asking me if the swords that they buy now will have the new edge geometry so I'll address that here- the answer is 'I don't know.' If you are worried about getting the new edge buy your sword from Edgefair.com (CAS/H's retail site) as the fact that they are shipping these now probably means that they have run out of the older swords.

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Luka Borscak




Location: Croatia
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PostPosted: Tue 11 Aug, 2009 5:17 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It's good to hear that. Too bad they I didn't get this improved edge on the Viking I bought few weeks ago. Wink Btw, have you talked to them about the peening/threading of the GSoW???
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Michael Pearce
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PostPosted: Thu 13 Aug, 2009 9:10 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Luka- if you got a Viking sword with a 'bad' edge you need to email CAS/Hanwei directly; they can't fix this stuff if they aren't being told and they really do want to know!

As to the GSOW- CAS/H did go with a take-down construction because they are still considering offering this sword in 'blunt' form and take-down construction would allow customers to retro-fit blunt blades to their sharp.

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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M. Eversberg II




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PostPosted: Thu 13 Aug, 2009 12:20 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Speaking of retrofitting...what would the price difference be between a blade and hilt and just the blade? Surely the hilt components can't be that much more expensive?

M.

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Luka Borscak




Location: Croatia
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PostPosted: Thu 13 Aug, 2009 3:07 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Michael Pearce wrote:
Luka- if you got a Viking sword with a 'bad' edge you need to email CAS/Hanwei directly; they can't fix this stuff if they aren't being told and they really do want to know!

As to the GSOW- CAS/H did go with a take-down construction because they are still considering offering this sword in 'blunt' form and take-down construction would allow customers to retro-fit blunt blades to their sharp.


I don't find this to be such a great problem and it sure wouldn't be worth it to send a sword from Croatia to USA just for sharpening. Wink
Well, for GSoW it seems like I'll order just a bare blade if it it's going to be offered and get hilt made here in Croatia and with a peen at the end.
Thanks for your answer Mr. Pearce.
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Michael Pearce
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PostPosted: Thu 13 Aug, 2009 4:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hi Luka-

I didn't think that you'd want a replacement sword necessarily- just that they need to know about problems even if you fix them locally.

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Nathan Quarantillo




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PostPosted: Wed 26 Aug, 2009 4:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

does anyone know where to get a GSoW? a viking? the blunts seem very interesting to me. i dont see them on edgefair though................................ all helps appreciated!
"Id rather be historically accurate than politically correct"
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Roger Hooper




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PostPosted: Wed 26 Aug, 2009 5:10 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nathan Quarantillo wrote:
does anyone know where to get a GSoW? a viking? the blunts seem very interesting to me. i dont see them on edgefair though................................ all helps appreciated!


go to Kult of Athena - http://www.kultofathena.com/new_items.htm -

You can find all of Tinker's Hanwei swords there.
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Nathan Quarantillo




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PostPosted: Sat 29 Aug, 2009 5:57 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

DUH! Surprised Surprised Surprised forgot to check that. the blunts werent in stage combat section, so i thought that KOA didnt havem.
"Id rather be historically accurate than politically correct"
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Roger Hooper




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PostPosted: Sat 29 Aug, 2009 11:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nathan Quarantillo wrote:
DUH! Surprised Surprised Surprised forgot to check that. the blunts werent in stage combat section, so i thought that KOA didnt havem.


Unfortunately, there is no blunt version of the Grete Sword of War
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Michael Pearce
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PostPosted: Sun 30 Aug, 2009 8:20 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Roger Hooper wrote:
Nathan Quarantillo wrote:
DUH! Surprised Surprised Surprised forgot to check that. the blunts werent in stage combat section, so i thought that KOA didnt havem.


Unfortunately, there is no blunt version of the Grete Sword of War


Not yet, anyway...

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Nathan Quarantillo




Location: Eastern Panhandle WV, USA
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PostPosted: Sun 30 Aug, 2009 5:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

yes................ i love that design. the norman blunt, can anyone tell me about its handling? (detailed plz) most norman swords are usually (or from what i have been reviewing) somewhat heavy chop oriented. i would appreciate greatly a detailed look at its handling (want to see how a high level smiths version turns out)
"Id rather be historically accurate than politically correct"
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