Fantastic to see this great review of one of the first saber reproductions done right. Very pleased to hear about its history, as well as the paramount importance of correct distal taper/thickness and sharpening.
It's still hard to get ahold of a good repro of many types of sword. I am working on filling in the gap on Kindjal & shashka here in the West myself. The war kicking off has made it that much harder to get decent ones. I am just waiting on my brocade fabric shipment so I can cover scabbards correctly.
The Prussian ADC of Jeb Stuart, Von Borcke, had a large Solingen backsword which was very well sharpened. In the field he is known to have decapitated at least one opponent.
Good review and cutting. I've got one as well. Love the handling. I can't help feeling the grips a bit thicker than it should be. Also, missed opportunity for authenticity by making the scabbard out of STAINLESS steel. Makes it un unsable for reenacting without treating it somehow... though I like the attention they paid to construction detail... It LOOKS like ikea stainless. Such a shame in my opinion.
a sword is straight.. a saber is curved. and some times they used sharkskin for the grips.. but and they only really sharpend the 1st 6 inches down from the tip
Hi, I have recently bought the Windlass Steelworks ordinary confederate's light cavalry sabre, the union's 1860 light cavalry saber and their union1840 heavy cavalry saber and metallurgical qualities put aside of which I may be a poor judge anyway, but only the 1840 heavy cavalry saber impressed me. It is the only one that has considerable distal taper and is rigid enough to not "wobble" and "droop" while slashing horizontally or stabbing with the blade (if that makes sense to you guys). The blade which could be 1080 high carbon blade but there is confusion all around about uit being 1065 high carbon steel, starts out at a width of 8.5mm and tapers nicely gradually down to about 2 mm near the tip. I am certain about the 8.5mm but less certain about the 2.0 mm, but take it from me the distal taper is there, just like from the reviewed LK Chen saber. And although the point of balance is roughly 17 cm (I am European, sorry) from the hilt, I found this saber so easy to hanle for someone like me where as the light cavalry sabers felt uncertain, unbalanced, drooping, biting in my hand (the wire) and generally unpleasant. I had all sabers sharpened and while it is not paper cutting sharp as I would have hoped, it certainly saves me a lot of DIY work. ;-) But here's my gripe, I agree the LK Chen is wonderful from everything I hear and see, but it seems nobody except 1 backyard cutter maybe, has seriously reviewed or compared this 1840 Windlass version of the wristbreaker. I would without a moment's hesitation put my light cavalry saber's up for sale, hoping to regain some of my funds, but the wristbreaker I will keep for sure. I just love the way it swings and holds. I admit to being a 194 cm (6ft4") older guy of athtletic build even at now a considerable 115 kg. Maybe wristbreakers are easy for me because of that, but yeah, would love to find someone else talking about that Windlass wristbreaker to compare experiences.
My apologies if the example I used confused matters! I pulled down the m1840 to show an example of a sword which had not undergone service sharpening, and which is the state that many troopers swords are still found. Perhaps I lead viewers to confuse how private purchase and issued swords could differ in their presentation.
Fantastic to see this great review of one of the first saber reproductions done right. Very pleased to hear about its history, as well as the paramount importance of correct distal taper/thickness and sharpening.
VERY GOOD REVIEW, THANK YOU.
It's still hard to get ahold of a good repro of many types of sword. I am working on filling in the gap on Kindjal & shashka here in the West myself. The war kicking off has made it that much harder to get decent ones. I am just waiting on my brocade fabric shipment so I can cover scabbards correctly.
The Prussian ADC of Jeb Stuart, Von Borcke, had a large Solingen backsword which was very well sharpened. In the field he is known to have decapitated at least one opponent.
That was an incredibly good review. Subbed
Thank you sir! Glad you found it helpful!
Good review and cutting. I've got one as well. Love the handling. I can't help feeling the grips a bit thicker than it should be. Also, missed opportunity for authenticity by making the scabbard out of STAINLESS steel. Makes it un unsable for reenacting without treating it somehow... though I like the attention they paid to construction detail... It LOOKS like ikea stainless. Such a shame in my opinion.
Ty for the video
a sword is straight.. a saber is curved. and some times they used sharkskin for the grips.. but and they only really sharpend the 1st 6 inches down from the tip
I just wish they can make it with a left-handed hilt
I just wish it was an 1840 pattern.
You never know what LK will cook up next!
Hi, I have recently bought the Windlass Steelworks ordinary confederate's light cavalry sabre, the union's 1860 light cavalry saber and their union1840 heavy cavalry saber and metallurgical qualities put aside of which I may be a poor judge anyway, but only the 1840 heavy cavalry saber impressed me. It is the only one that has considerable distal taper and is rigid enough to not "wobble" and "droop" while slashing horizontally or stabbing with the blade (if that makes sense to you guys). The blade which could be 1080 high carbon blade but there is confusion all around about uit being 1065 high carbon steel, starts out at a width of 8.5mm and tapers nicely gradually down to about 2 mm near the tip. I am certain about the 8.5mm but less certain about the 2.0 mm, but take it from me the distal taper is there, just like from the reviewed LK Chen saber. And although the point of balance is roughly 17 cm (I am European, sorry) from the hilt, I found this saber so easy to hanle for someone like me where as the light cavalry sabers felt uncertain, unbalanced, drooping, biting in my hand (the wire) and generally unpleasant. I had all sabers sharpened and while it is not paper cutting sharp as I would have hoped, it certainly saves me a lot of DIY work. ;-) But here's my gripe, I agree the LK Chen is wonderful from everything I hear and see, but it seems nobody except 1 backyard cutter maybe, has seriously reviewed or compared this 1840 Windlass version of the wristbreaker. I would without a moment's hesitation put my light cavalry saber's up for sale, hoping to regain some of my funds, but the wristbreaker I will keep for sure. I just love the way it swings and holds. I admit to being a 194 cm (6ft4") older guy of athtletic build even at now a considerable 115 kg. Maybe wristbreakers are easy for me because of that, but yeah, would love to find someone else talking about that Windlass wristbreaker to compare experiences.
Sir you may have from me the same
this guy doesnt know much... officers swords were purchased by the officer and could be ordered service sharpened or not.
My apologies if the example I used confused matters! I pulled down the m1840 to show an example of a sword which had not undergone service sharpening, and which is the state that many troopers swords are still found. Perhaps I lead viewers to confuse how private purchase and issued swords could differ in their presentation.
bro's out here subscribed to the history channel and still saying that it's other people that don't know much.