So I got my Darksword Armory Guardian, Mixed feelings

Will Batayte

Will Batayte

Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Messages
640
I had ordered both a guardian and a norman dagger. For those that don't know the guardian is a large two handed sword. Both are nice, hand forged, well made swords. All though the finishing could be better. I had to re-glue down an inch long piece of leather that was just swinging in the wind on the handle. and there are a few marks here and there that weren't polished out. no big deal in either case.
My problem is I paid $30 each for sharpening and they are dull as hell in the best spots and completely unsharpened in others including for 6" down from the tip on both sides and other large sections. That's Bullshit to say the least. I would never buy their sharpening service again. Now I have to screw around sharpening 62" of steel considering the sword is double edged. If your buying their swords DON'T have them sharpened. I've seen better sharpening on $6 pakistan POS knives. It's honestly like I asked my 8 year old cousin to try and sharpen it with a grinder. If I'm gonna pay for a service It damn well better be done well. It's probably enough were I'll try Valiant or cold steel next time. I haven't bothered emailing them because I'm sure as hell not sending it back so they can try and fail again. It took 14 days for them to sharpen and send it last time and looking at the job done I doubt they spent more that 1/2 an hour doing it. if they spent 14 days they really have NO sharpening skills whatsoever.
 
Anybody else had good or bad experience with these folks? I'd hate to think that this kind of thing is the norm.
 
Actually it is the norm, and it seems that coldblooded is not alone in his experience.

I never thought to warn anyone about the sharpening services offered by several sites. Most of the retail sites that offer sword sharpening services leave alot to be desired, alot. I would much prefer to either do it myself, or to send it to a competent individual who will profile it right and not leave a large secondary bevel.

The handle wrap on the guardian seems to be an issue on some but not all of those swords. Most glue it down and bash away. The finish issue that is mentioned is present on most of their swords also, the common perception is that your dollars go towards a bullet proof beater sword, and not a presentation finish.

Don't go sour on their swords, until you actually get to cut with your guardian, thats where they shine.

Chuck
 
I was Just kinda pissed when I wrote that line about switching brands. I would still buy a sword from them because the sword feels solid and is really nice. this is the first time I've ever held a sword that feels like a real medieval weapon. I would NEVER get the sharpening service again. NEVER! But that said once I get this thing sharpened it's gonna be an absolutely vicious weapon for sure. I never bothered asking anyone about the sharpening since all the cutting videos on youtube were very impressive and all the reviews said the swords came razor sharp. lol I don't know what people consider razor sharp but I have high standards of sharpness. I want to be able to shave with it at the very least. And shaving is entirely possible with even a thickly ground edge, say 50 degrees total. There would still be plenty of steel in that edge to make it durable. But they ground it at about 80 degrees:eek: and flat. I would have liked a 50 degree convex edge done on a belt grinder. Can you imagine the kind of cutting that sword would do with an edge like my fallkniven thor?:D
 
Yep, convex it on a belt grinder and it is a whole diferent world of weapon.

I think, not sure, but think, that the sharpening offered by most sites, and DSA themselves included consists of clamping the blade, and using something along the lines of an Accusharp on them. A very obtuse edge to say the least, and the large secondary bevel leaves much to be desired.

Kind of hard to take coming from DSA as they are the manufacturer, and one would think that they would be able to profile the blade to customer specs, either convex or an appleseed edge tapering from the center line of the blade.

You might consider calling them. I have spoken with them on the phone and they are decent folks, who seem to have a genuine interest in keeping customers happy.

Chuck
 
halromberg said:
Anybody else had good or bad experience with these folks? I'd hate to think that this kind of thing is the norm.
Click to expand...

I would consider wandering over to Sword Forum International or Myarmoury.com and doing a search on Dark Sword Armory. It may prove to be enlightening...
 
chuckinohio said:
Yep, convex it on a belt grinder and it is a whole diferent world of weapon.

I think, not sure, but think, that the sharpening offered by most sites, and DSA themselves included consists of clamping the blade, and using something along the lines of an Accusharp on them. A very obtuse edge to say the least, and the large secondary bevel leaves much to be desired.

Kind of hard to take coming from DSA as they are the manufacturer, and one would think that they would be able to profile the blade to customer specs, either convex or an appleseed edge tapering from the center line of the blade.

You might consider calling them. I have spoken with them on the phone and they are decent folks, who seem to have a genuine interest in keeping customers happy.

Chuck
Click to expand...

Why would Darksword Armory be unable to offer a proficient sharpening option with good results? According to the owner/proprietor, they smith their own swords. There should be no reason at all they can't offer a good edge.

A very real truth is that the fellow has never shown the shop and swords being made. There have been endless argument that the swords are done under his roof, yet so many facets bely the apparent truths. Discussions regarding cheaply cast pot metal fittings and quite simply, half truths from the source should raise more than a few eyebrows.

How is it that such a wonderful production capability makes it difficult to do a decent grind to sharp?

Clamping and Accusharp or file work? I sense bullshit on one side or the other about the true source and supply. Why do customers choose to pay for these half truths and outright lies?

Cheers

GC
 
Because they are darn near impossible to tear up or break, and they offer swords that appeal to many people.

Chuck
 
Hey, I never questioned the value (or apparent lack of it at times) of the product. It is the tripe offered as truths that continues to (seemingly) not matter.

Show us the shop. Show us the truths. There is no reason not to peel back the veneer of the production. Windlass (for instance) may not show the shops making stuff for them but at least they are fairly open to the true sources.

Cheers

GC
 
For what it is worth, and this is only my opinion mind you, they could be made on the moon and marketed by the Lollipop Guild and I would still own them.

Where they are made doesn't concern me as much as their durability. No one seems to be concerned that the Valiant ATrim models are made overseas.
Perhaps overseas manufacture explains why one can not get one with any kind of an edge.

I do agree that there is a controversy over where DSA products originate, and I have always stayed out of the debate, I've never seen any proof one way or another. Even if the claims that Eyal is a liar are true, I am not going to unload my DSA swords in disgust. The CEOs of GM and Chrysler are proven liars and I own one of each.

Anyways back to sharpening.

I am in total agreement that there is no excuse for not being able to purchase a DSA with an edge at least comparable to the VA cutters and signatures. Their argument that there is no need for a sharp sword in todays world doesn't hold much water as there is a demand for sharp cutters.

Chuck
 
halromberg said:
Anybody else had good or bad experience with these folks? I'd hate to think that this kind of thing is the norm.
Click to expand...

I don't have anything from Darksword but I have has the same experience from Paul Chen and Ritter. I was very disappointed with the results from Paul Chen. I have 5 of his swords that were all advertised as sharpened and fully functional.....well, none of the swords would cut a piece of bread and were dull as hell. I have heard so much good about Paul Chen but my experience so far is not so good.
I have learned that if I want a "sharp sword" then I have to find something from Cold Steel (I know, I know)but they are always very sharp when I have received them.
My last bad experience with P.C. was a Jian sword that was supposed to have an exotic wood handle and be fully sharpened....what I got is a Jian with plastic handles and nice shiney blade but it was completly dull and would not cut anything.
I think I have now learned my lesson about buying ANYTHING from P.C. ever again.

what a bummer,
ciao4now
Ron
:eek:
 
Has anyone else noticed the lack of pics? I don't think this sword exists... that's the rules of the interweb
 
Also, has anyone else noticed that this is a 4 year old thread? STOP NECROPOSTING! Seriously, how hard is it to pay attention to the original post date?
 
hey, don't blame me. I see something at the top of the list in bold, i just might post in it. Not my fault ;)
 
No need to go to another forum. I purchased the Anduril sword from DSA about a year ago. From the start this sword had issues regarding the finish but I ignored them because no sword is perfect. Also, I was so excited to get it that I just didn't care. The real problem began to present itself upon further inspection. I noticed that the blade was a little off center, slightly angled to the right when looking at the broad side of the blade with the DSA makers mark facing you. After just a few test cuts that angle was the direction my tang bent. These tests were standard tests. One slice though a tatami mat, one half gallon milk jug, one gallon milk jug, and one (the final one) through a piece of trimming. A $400+ sword defeated by a $2 piece of trim. The worst part was that Mr. Ezerad refused to take the sword back and the hassle of shipping it to Canada for them to "fix" was like pulling teeth. Then when it was returned to me it was still bent, not like it was when I returned it to DSA but like it was originally! To top it all off, I take the hilt off and see that all they did was weld the tang back on in a straighter orientation. Eyal made it very clear to me that there would be no refund or inconvenience compensation so I tested it again after it was "fixed" and within minutes the weld gave and the blade cracked off. It had since resided in a corner, out of sight. I will never buy from Mr. Ezerad or purchase an item associated with him again and I have warned tens of other collectors about this issue and plan to tell all my friends.
 
face it, they screw up a sword while sharpening it properly, they can't sell it. if they sell you a sword and it gets screwed up while being sharpened elsewhere, that's on you. no longer their problem. the entire procedure smacks of a system set up for maximum profit with minimal loss, insofar as having legal action taken. If they took even 1/10000th of an inch of material off, they "sharpened" that piece, collect the money, and what are you gonna do? not much. they performed the service. the problem is in that "razor sharp" is a subjective term, and they're using that fact to evade performing the service properly. pretty crappy, and they should just offer the sword unsharpened and put that money saved into QC imo.
 
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