Espada blade swap?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
The AUS8 Large Bolstered Espadas are as cheap as I've ever seen them right now, and the DLC XHP large Espadas are out now as well... I was wondering if the two blades were swappable? I'd love to put together a "tuxedo" Large espada using the polished handles and DLC blade.

Just imagine, these two having a beautiful ridiculously huge baby:

62NL.jpg

espada-g10-xhp-large-large.jpg
 
They're probably swappable just because it'd be more cost effective for cold steel to use the same manufacturing tech and specs when making the blare. But your probably the first person to try and do this so i doubt you'll have anyone be able to tell you from experience whether or not they can be swapped. Give it a shot and let us know!
 
Feuerfreiguy said:
They're probably swappable just because it'd be more cost effective for cold steel to use the same manufacturing tech and specs when making the blare. But your probably the first person to try and do this so i doubt you'll have anyone be able to tell you from experience whether or not they can be swapped. Give it a shot and let us know!
Click to expand...



I think I will - both are hovering around $130 as I'm shopping around, and the upcoming polished XHP version has a retail price of about $260... This will leave me with two knives! I might even go as far as to have the grind or flats stonewashed (for a two-tone finish on the blade) and then have polished CF scales made to replace the polished G10. That's just a thought, though.
 
It seems all the blades so far tried (Lawman, AK, Recon) have been directly swappable. I think those Espadas should be the same way. :thumbup:
 
G. Scott H. said:
It seems all the blades so far tried (Lawman, AK, Recon) have been directly swappable. I think those Espadas should be the same way. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Awesome! Now I just need to get my hands on them. Also, I noticed a few interesting things when searching around for large espadas:
- There's a video discussing a change in blade shape in the polished models, which I can't seem to find any information about.
- There are dealer exclusive DLC Large Espadas right now that were very recently released.
- The G10 XL AUS8 models are going for as little as $80 right now.

Does anyone know of a good place to get either of the models for the swap on the cheap? Best I can find is $132.50 for the polished AUS8 (62NL) and $158 for the G10 XHP DLC (62NGC)
 
Comeuppance said:
Awesome! Now I just need to get my hands on them. Also, I noticed a few interesting things when searching around for large espadas:
- There's a video discussing a change in blade shape in the polished models, which I can't seem to find any information about.
- There are dealer exclusive DLC Large Espadas right now that were very recently released.
- The G10 XL AUS8 models are going for as little as $80 right now.

Does anyone know of a good place to get either of the models for the swap on the cheap? Best I can find is $132.50 for the polished AUS8 (62NL) and $158 for the G10 XHP DLC (62NGC)
Click to expand...

I think the changes you heard about are referring to the slightly longer aluminum bolster (1/4''ish) and the shortened ricasso of the blades (1/4'' or more). There might also be a bit more belly/curvature to the blades now. These changes happened a while back. Subtle but huge improvements in the aesthetics. The picture you linked in the first post is the old version of the satin model.

Also the large and xl dlc espadas have saber ground blades instead of hollow, but I'm pretty sure the medium retains the hollow grind. I'm unsure if the cts-xhp satin espadas will have hollow or saber.

I've bought both verisons recently and yeah those are the lowest prices I could find as well. But I never saw any dealer exclusive versions yet, are they doing the different color g10 handles? Link if possible?
 
They're honestly really difficult to locate by searching. I tried to find it the same way I had found it initially and failed - I ultimately had to resort to searching through my history. I don't believe it's a forum-supporting dealer, so I can't link to them, but "Red's Gear" is the dealer and the models are:

62NGLVB: Large Olive Drab G10
62NGLVG: Large Green G10

The website is so poorly laid-out, and the information on their very own dealer-exclusive is incorrect. It's no wonder they aren't moving, especially at a $40 premium.
 
Haha yeah some of these little camping/hunting retailers don't display their inventory very well. Thanks for the info though. I just saw a coyote tan with dlc, looks pretty nice.

Anyway I'd definitely recommend the aus8 satin espada, mind blowing deal. A pm2 and a large espada are now competing in the same price range.
 
Comeuppance said:
Also, I noticed a few interesting things when searching around for large espadas:
- There's a video discussing a change in blade shape in the polished models, which I can't seem to find any information about.
Click to expand...

Aside from the changes that StryCoShaw mentioned, one of the most pronounced changes was the shortening of the swedge. Note the difference between the swedge on this earlier model

image.jpg1_zpskclho1qq.jpg


and that on this later edition

image.jpg2_zpsm8ggahzz.jpg


You can also see the bolster and ricasso modifications, as well as some subtle changes to the sweep of the belly and the blade's centerline.

[Please note: Neither of these images is mine. I borrowed them for illustration purposes.]

Comeuppance, your idea of creating a "tuxedo" version of the polished Espada is awesome! You've got to show us the results when you put it together!

-Steve
 
Hey comeuppance, I have the large aluminum model and also the g10 model(I blunted it into a trainer). The aluminum model has a slighter wider blade then the g10 version. Just a slight increase. Idk about the new black coated models though. I don't know about the fit to the frame difference.
 
Where the heck did you find them for $80?? Please tell me, PM or through here, because for the sake of large folders I am getting two of those at that price!

Thanks
PS: The Talwar XL blades are swappable, so I guess the Espadas' should be as well!
 
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