Another line has just been re-added to the store, and that is Darksword Armory and their range of European and Functional Fantasy Swords.
We removed them for a while as we were not able to offer as good a deal as they were over the lead up to Christmas (they were offering a free stiletto and a free Game of Thrones banner to every customer from around November) plus we also were getting some complaints about the sharpening service, so now that we have brought them back we have decided NOT to offer the service any longer..
It is not that there is anything actually WRONG with the sharpening service, but rather it is a matter of meeting modern day customer expectations. It seems many customers who pay extra for a sharpening service expect an edge that will easily cut water bottles like a katana, while Darksword provide what they argue is a closer to authentic medieval edge – but this is a contentious point (pun intended) among sword enthusiasts and collectors – and not made any easier by other sword providers and sword lines such as Windlass Steelcrafts, who provide a shaving sharp bevelled edge to customers who select the optional sharpening service, or the RK Euro line which are shipped ready to cut water bottles, tatami mats and bamboo straight out of the box with an appleseed bevel..
Darksword are quite clear about what they provide on their FAQ page here which states in response to the question “are your swords razor sharp”:
In regards to the edge of the sword, it should be noted that medieval swords were not made with a razor edge. This is not only due to the blade geometry, but also due to the fact that the purpose of a European sword is not to cut through armor but rather break (slash) armor and pierce (thrust) an opponent. Katanas on the other hand are very different. The edge of a katana is razor sharp as its purpose is to cut through (leather) armor and bone. The thickness and edge geometry however is very different to European weapons. As such, a medieval sword cannot and was not sharpened with a razor edge as katanas.
For further details I would suggest reading the following article by renown author and reenactment combat teacher Hugh Knight:
http://talhoffer.blogspot.ca/2011/05/how-sharp-were-medieval-swords.html
I also suggest reading the i33 combat manual for insight into the use and therefore sharpness of the medieval sword: http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/restricted/i33/i33text.pdf
Finally, I would suggest watching the following documentary with John Clements. It explains the different between edge sharpeness of the medieval sword as opposed to the katana:
https://youtu.be/58NVoTocUOk
For further reading on edge analysis we have also written an article on our blog. You can read it at the following link:
https://darksword-armory.com/analysis-edge-sharpness-middle-ages/
European swords cut extremely well despite not having razor sharp edges. The cutting ability however is created by the angle of the cut, speed and motion (slicing). All three combined will create a momentum in which the sword will cut through cutting targets quite easily.
However, in my experience – most customers don’t actually read the FAQ on a site, and with an expectation already in their minds as to what a sharpened blade should be, tend to complain when they receive a sword that is not to their expectation. So rather than put disclaimers and explanations all over the site, for the time being at least we have simply opted to remove the sharpening service as an option and are clear that the swords are shipped unsharpened, allowing customers the option to sharpen themselves if so desired..
Additionally we also found that offering a sharpening service led some customers to get confused as to if our other swords were sharpened or not (to which the answer is, yes – almost all of them are!) so as you can see, there was a lot to consider and a lot of cases where we ended up losing too much money refunding customers whose expectations were not met from the sharpening service while explaining why it was sharpened the way it was..
Anyway, while we may not offer the sharpening service, what we DO offer is FREE SHIPPING in the USA and Canada and a bonus $25 coupon code to anyone who reads any of our Darksword Armory Reviews (or indeed, reads this particular blog post!)..
Click to automatically add the coupon to your cart
And as you can see, some of their latest swords – though well above the $300 price point – are truly works of art, my personal favorite – their Warmonger Fantasy Sword..
