Excellent review and effortless cutting, Andy! I’m so glad that more than one production makers are capable of producing faithful reproductions of the infamous Pattern 1796 now! I have the new Windlass version which is based on an antique sold to them by Matt Easton. It’s doing very well, but LK Chen is always the default maker I can trust when it comes down to a 1:1 recreation of a surviving example. Their entire catalog is modeled after antiques. Not to mention that the edges they put on are far superior to Windlass’ swords. You seem to have had great time cutting with it, even cleaving an empty hard bottle in half. The thin and wide tip did pretty well at thrusting too. It’s thin enough to jab into light targets without much trouble, the problem is the alignment due to the curvature of the blade, so some resistance is what makes the thrusts falter. I also see Skallagrim struggle a bit cutting with this sword. I suspect the edge on his isn’t particularly sharp. Some LK Chen swords mysteriously come with dull edges, which is quite perplexing considering their regular sharpness is quite adequate. I’m releasing the review of his new Irish Gallowglass two-handed sword for Balaur Arms. While it’s an incredibly design, the edges are without any question lackluster throughout. It’s not what I call “cutting ready” at all. For Skallagrim’s sabers there’s also a possibility that the metal throat of the scabbards have dulled the edges over time.
@@FortuneFavoursTheBold yes, the edge sharpness when LKChen gets it right is really at the top of the market. In the years past that was rather hit or miss, but the most recent swords I have received have all been good to spectacular with their edge sharpness. I’d definitely send a note to KK with feedback about the sharpness on that BA Gallowglass so they know there was an issue going on. Love your review on the windlass 1796: I’m really hoping someone gets their hands on both to do a side by side at some point!
@@dlatrexswords definitely a great idea to compare Windlass and LK Chen’s 1796 side by side. We can ignore the CS now as it’s not even remotely in the same league. I expect the handling to be different but each of the 2 would represent certain subgroup of the original as they were made by different makers, too. LK Chen’s has the edge due to superior edge geometry and sharpness out-of-the-box, better quality control, better fit & finish. BTW KK told me that he isn’t involved with the BA contract with LK, so I’m not sure what he can do other than alerting LK Chen personally of this issue.
I want this one or the windlass very badly. 1796 is just such a cool pattern, whether you know anything about swords or not you probably know what a Saber is supposed to be. Or at least what most sabers look like and therefore when you see a 1796, say "whoa... that's a hell of Saber!" I did lol 🤘💀 got some wicked cuts with it! Thanks for showing it off man appreciate you But Balaur arms just released that gallowglass great sword so, yeah everything gets bumped down the list. Unless the new R/A stuff comes out before I can save money for one. Pretty sure there's a basket hilt broadsword in there's somewhere and I gots to has a basket hilt
Lookin for a good review of the gallowglass sword lk chen made for balur arms. Of course they sold out of the non-damaged units already, but it'd be nice for future reference.
Great review! I’ve been wanting one of these for awhile but I can’t decide which company I want to get it from either LK Chen or Cold Steel because I own phenomenal swords from both companies. You have gained a subscriber!
@@FiliiMartis so I have 2 swords from cold steel. One is a Gladius machete I got from Dlatrex himself which is overbuilt and af but most importantly was $15 so I literally have nothing to complain about. And then I have a Jian (Chinese Gim Sword) which I got for sub $200 is incredibly sharp almost mirror polished and feels amazing in the hand And the overall fit and finish is also really nice. As for LK Chen I have a Munich Town Guard Sword which while much bigger and heavier is perfectly balanced and also pretty sharp and the fit is solid but the finish is kinda lacking imo. I love both swords and their companies very much so that’s why I’m torn between the two on this one.
@@galactigo4463 Ok, thanks for sharing. $15... yea, you really cannot complain, even if it would be the worst piece in the world. Shipping costs are usually more than that; that's the cost of a fast food meal at this point. 😅 If I can be so bold, my impression is that you were lucky since Jian has a simple geometry, so fewer things can get wrong with the design of these swords. But I hear that the Cold Steel 1976 has a bad weight and weight distribution and even dimensions compared to historical 1796 pieces. I don't know if they have improved the model. It was a good choice before Windlass released the 1796 model made with the help from Matt Easton, and before LK Chen released their piece, that I'm thinking it's better based on the maker if nothing else. If you like the Munich Town Guard Sword, and honestly, my critique of it would be that it doesn't reproduce the hilt as well as Arms and Armor manage to do on their piece (which is three times the cost; so let's keep this in perspective😅), then just get the LK Chen 1796. I think you have the highest chance to feel happy with it as a sabre (maker, blade quality, hilt type, use). 👍
@@kaoskronostyche9939 so to respond to your “hidden” comment, yes the hilt is stainless, but personally it doesn’t bother me. It came out nicer than the complex hilted examples so maybe that’s why I gave it a pass. They certainly would have used it had they the option in the 19th century! It could be treated to taste I’m sure. And yes, a side by side with the windlass example would be nice. I need to trick someone into sending me a sample…
Dlatrex, have you handled the Windlass 1796 that Matt Easton had a role in making? It's unsharpened, so sharpening it would add to the cost, but it's still cheaper. Although, at this point, I would probably go with LK Chen if I would want a 1796 copy, just because I trust more the maker - the man has passion for swords and that counts for something.
The Windlass version has an excellent blueprint being modeled after an original in good condition sold to them by Matt Easton, and Matt’s personal counsel. But the quality control has been proven to be untrustworthy. LK Chen’s have much better consistency.
I have both the Windlass and Cold Steel versions. The Windlass is better, but not great. Distal taper is much better, scabbard is much worse, and the Windlass is really held back by their typical fit and finish, big secondary bevel, and spotty QC. I would love to see someone do a three way comparison and would be happy to supply detailed measurements of the two I have on hand. I suspect the LK Chen version is by far the best of the three.
@@flowerpower457 not just the distal taper is (vastly) better. The blade profile is much closer to the originals with a wider base, more noticeable waist, and flared up foible, comparing to the Cold Steel. The hilt is also much more faithful. The secondary bevel is due to the third party sharpening job because Windlass only knows how to make thick edges, not the refined ones found on the originals and good modern reproductions like LK Chen’s. How is the Windlass scabbard worse than CS (also made by Windlass as a contract maker)? It’s a steel scabbard like the originals have, the CS one is just a floppy sheath made of poor quality leather.
@@FortuneFavoursTheBold On my example the Cold Steel scabbard is steel. The fit and retention is better. I thought it was wood lined, but I just disassembled it to check and no--it was just brown discoloration, no wood. So I revise my opinion: scabbard about the same, Windlass superior otherwise but with downsides.
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I ❤ sabres. I have many in my collection. It is a very underappreciated sword.
Have on order! Thanks for the review. Good point for the difference in medium: paper vs tatami.
Excellent review and effortless cutting, Andy! I’m so glad that more than one production makers are capable of producing faithful reproductions of the infamous Pattern 1796 now! I have the new Windlass version which is based on an antique sold to them by Matt Easton. It’s doing very well, but LK Chen is always the default maker I can trust when it comes down to a 1:1 recreation of a surviving example. Their entire catalog is modeled after antiques. Not to mention that the edges they put on are far superior to Windlass’ swords.
You seem to have had great time cutting with it, even cleaving an empty hard bottle in half. The thin and wide tip did pretty well at thrusting too. It’s thin enough to jab into light targets without much trouble, the problem is the alignment due to the curvature of the blade, so some resistance is what makes the thrusts falter.
I also see Skallagrim struggle a bit cutting with this sword. I suspect the edge on his isn’t particularly sharp. Some LK Chen swords mysteriously come with dull edges, which is quite perplexing considering their regular sharpness is quite adequate. I’m releasing the review of his new Irish Gallowglass two-handed sword for Balaur Arms. While it’s an incredibly design, the edges are without any question lackluster throughout. It’s not what I call “cutting ready” at all. For Skallagrim’s sabers there’s also a possibility that the metal throat of the scabbards have dulled the edges over time.
@@FortuneFavoursTheBold yes, the edge sharpness when LKChen gets it right is really at the top of the market. In the years past that was rather hit or miss, but the most recent swords I have received have all been good to spectacular with their edge sharpness. I’d definitely send a note to KK with feedback about the sharpness on that BA Gallowglass so they know there was an issue going on.
Love your review on the windlass 1796: I’m really hoping someone gets their hands on both to do a side by side at some point!
@@dlatrexswords definitely a great idea to compare Windlass and LK Chen’s 1796 side by side. We can ignore the CS now as it’s not even remotely in the same league.
I expect the handling to be different but each of the 2 would represent certain subgroup of the original as they were made by different makers, too. LK Chen’s has the edge due to superior edge geometry and sharpness out-of-the-box, better quality control, better fit & finish.
BTW KK told me that he isn’t involved with the BA contract with LK, so I’m not sure what he can do other than alerting LK Chen personally of this issue.
I want this one or the windlass very badly. 1796 is just such a cool pattern, whether you know anything about swords or not you probably know what a Saber is supposed to be. Or at least what most sabers look like and therefore when you see a 1796, say
"whoa... that's a hell of Saber!"
I did lol 🤘💀 got some wicked cuts with it! Thanks for showing it off man appreciate you
But Balaur arms just released that gallowglass great sword so, yeah everything gets bumped down the list.
Unless the new R/A stuff comes out before I can save money for one. Pretty sure there's a basket hilt broadsword in there's somewhere and I gots to has a basket hilt
I do hope someone makes a decent heavy cavalry model as I'm a huge Sharpe fan lol
Lookin for a good review of the gallowglass sword lk chen made for balur arms. Of course they sold out of the non-damaged units already, but it'd be nice for future reference.
@@qeter129 I would check out my mate Kane Shen: he just released a long review of the Gallowglass today!
@@dlatrexswords That was quick lol. Shame about the injury.
Love your style 😎
@@raswerdelad thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
Great review! I’ve been wanting one of these for awhile but I can’t decide which company I want to get it from either LK Chen or Cold Steel because I own phenomenal swords from both companies.
You have gained a subscriber!
Go with LK Chen. No contest... 🙂
I'm a bit curious, what do you like from/about Cold Steel?
@@FiliiMartis so I have 2 swords from cold steel.
One is a Gladius machete I got from Dlatrex himself which is overbuilt and af but most importantly was $15 so I literally have nothing to complain about.
And then I have a Jian (Chinese Gim Sword) which I got for sub $200 is incredibly sharp almost mirror polished and feels amazing in the hand And the overall fit and finish is also really nice.
As for LK Chen I have a Munich Town Guard Sword which while much bigger and heavier is perfectly balanced and also pretty sharp and the fit is solid but the finish is kinda lacking imo.
I love both swords and their companies very much so that’s why I’m torn between the two on this one.
@@galactigo4463 Ok, thanks for sharing.
$15... yea, you really cannot complain, even if it would be the worst piece in the world. Shipping costs are usually more than that; that's the cost of a fast food meal at this point. 😅
If I can be so bold, my impression is that you were lucky since Jian has a simple geometry, so fewer things can get wrong with the design of these swords. But I hear that the Cold Steel 1976 has a bad weight and weight distribution and even dimensions compared to historical 1796 pieces. I don't know if they have improved the model. It was a good choice before Windlass released the 1796 model made with the help from Matt Easton, and before LK Chen released their piece, that I'm thinking it's better based on the maker if nothing else.
If you like the Munich Town Guard Sword, and honestly, my critique of it would be that it doesn't reproduce the hilt as well as Arms and Armor manage to do on their piece (which is three times the cost; so let's keep this in perspective😅), then just get the LK Chen 1796. I think you have the highest chance to feel happy with it as a sabre (maker, blade quality, hilt type, use). 👍
My previous comment appears to be deleted. Strange. What's that about?
@@kaoskronostyche9939 so to respond to your “hidden” comment, yes the hilt is stainless, but personally it doesn’t bother me. It came out nicer than the complex hilted examples so maybe that’s why I gave it a pass. They certainly would have used it had they the option in the 19th century! It could be treated to taste I’m sure.
And yes, a side by side with the windlass example would be nice. I need to trick someone into sending me a sample…
@@dlatrexswords Thanks for the reply. May the Sample Gods bless you. Cheers!
Dlatrex, have you handled the Windlass 1796 that Matt Easton had a role in making? It's unsharpened, so sharpening it would add to the cost, but it's still cheaper. Although, at this point, I would probably go with LK Chen if I would want a 1796 copy, just because I trust more the maker - the man has passion for swords and that counts for something.
The Windlass version has an excellent blueprint being modeled after an original in good condition sold to them by Matt Easton, and Matt’s personal counsel. But the quality control has been proven to be untrustworthy. LK Chen’s have much better consistency.
I have both the Windlass and Cold Steel versions. The Windlass is better, but not great. Distal taper is much better, scabbard is much worse, and the Windlass is really held back by their typical fit and finish, big secondary bevel, and spotty QC. I would love to see someone do a three way comparison and would be happy to supply detailed measurements of the two I have on hand. I suspect the LK Chen version is by far the best of the three.
@@flowerpower457 not just the distal taper is (vastly) better. The blade profile is much closer to the originals with a wider base, more noticeable waist, and flared up foible, comparing to the Cold Steel. The hilt is also much more faithful. The secondary bevel is due to the third party sharpening job because Windlass only knows how to make thick edges, not the refined ones found on the originals and good modern reproductions like LK Chen’s.
How is the Windlass scabbard worse than CS (also made by Windlass as a contract maker)? It’s a steel scabbard like the originals have, the CS one is just a floppy sheath made of poor quality leather.
@@FortuneFavoursTheBold On my example the Cold Steel scabbard is steel. The fit and retention is better. I thought it was wood lined, but I just disassembled it to check and no--it was just brown discoloration, no wood. So I revise my opinion: scabbard about the same, Windlass superior otherwise but with downsides.