Anton Irmen
BOUNCED EMAIL: I need to update my email address in my profile!
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2001
- Messages
- 68
Warning: Long post, but no testing results.
She arrived today and I really, really like her.
But since this is the initial review of a prototype, I have to be picky. And there is only one thing wrong with the Falcata, and thats the weight, since it came out a heavier than expected. In the post with the pix of the model (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157755), I estimated the ideal weight with 2.25 lbs, but it turned out to be 3.25 lbs. There are a few reasons for this. The first is or might be, that my guess simply was wrong. The other ones are, that the blade tapers slower than the blade of the model did. The model started with 8 mm (~1-3), reached 6 (1/4) mm after less than 6 inches, ad had a thickness of 4 (1/6) mm close to the tip. The "real" Falcata also starts with 8 mm, but then still has 7mm at the middle of the blade and tapers to only a tad over 5 mm (1/5) before the tip.
Another reason is, that the fuller is pretty shallow. I do not know why the blade turned out slightly beefier than I thought, but one guess might be, that Sanu thought that a Falcata is a large Khukuri, and the thick blades dont bend philosophy surfaced. And I am very confident that this Falcata won't bend. Maybe the reason for the shallow fullers is the danger of warping when a large blade with deep fullers is heat-treated. Or maybe my model was not accurate enough.
Associated with the shallow fullers and the less pronounced taper is the fact, that the point of balance (POB) is 5.5 (14 cm) in front of the guard, compared to 3.5 of the model.
The added weight and the wrong POB dont make the Falcata a poor performer in any way, but they diminish its speed and agility, make it strenuous to swing (I had to put on my medieval bracers, but hey, whats tendonitis, anyway?) and turn it into something more like a tool than a sword. I guess, with a slightly shorter blade (maybe 20 instead of 21 ¼), a more pronounced taper and deeper fullers, the Falcata might get considerably lighter (and, more important than the actual weight, the POB might come closer to the guard, making it less blade-heavy).
A minor problem was introduced by my flawed design, and I actually anticipated it (unfortunately, after I mailed the model). Somewhere between Reno and Germany, the handle cracked at the crooked part. I think, omitting the basically useless pin at this position (there wont me much lateral stress at this position) and/or placing a small brass sleeve over the curve might prevent this.
So, enough of this negative stuff, otherwise Ill start to dislike myself. Despite the weight problem, I am more than happy to own something as unique and beautiful as the Falcata. The unique handle works great, and together with the full curve of the Falcata, it greatly increases your opportunity to sever off your own leg
. The handle is excellently done, very smooth (like a finish with 600 grit sandpaper), without even the slightest rough spot caused by the full tang construction. It fits my hand perfectly, but I guess I shouldnt be surprised about that.
And the scabbard well, my English isnt good enough, so the often over-used word awesome has to come to the rescue, when actually a poem would be needed. OK, I could add breath-taking, overwhelming, and so on, but I guess you got my point. Oh, of course, fit and finish of the blade rate 11 out of 10. And besides the weight issue, everything is absolutely faithful to the model.
So much for now (long post considered that I have handled the Falcata less than 40 minutes yet), Ill post a more complete review somewhere next week (Dont have the time and opportunity here and now, and I have to get used to the momentum this blade generates first, anyway. I like my legs the way the are, no improvements needed yet)
She arrived today and I really, really like her.
But since this is the initial review of a prototype, I have to be picky. And there is only one thing wrong with the Falcata, and thats the weight, since it came out a heavier than expected. In the post with the pix of the model (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157755), I estimated the ideal weight with 2.25 lbs, but it turned out to be 3.25 lbs. There are a few reasons for this. The first is or might be, that my guess simply was wrong. The other ones are, that the blade tapers slower than the blade of the model did. The model started with 8 mm (~1-3), reached 6 (1/4) mm after less than 6 inches, ad had a thickness of 4 (1/6) mm close to the tip. The "real" Falcata also starts with 8 mm, but then still has 7mm at the middle of the blade and tapers to only a tad over 5 mm (1/5) before the tip.
Another reason is, that the fuller is pretty shallow. I do not know why the blade turned out slightly beefier than I thought, but one guess might be, that Sanu thought that a Falcata is a large Khukuri, and the thick blades dont bend philosophy surfaced. And I am very confident that this Falcata won't bend. Maybe the reason for the shallow fullers is the danger of warping when a large blade with deep fullers is heat-treated. Or maybe my model was not accurate enough.
Associated with the shallow fullers and the less pronounced taper is the fact, that the point of balance (POB) is 5.5 (14 cm) in front of the guard, compared to 3.5 of the model.
The added weight and the wrong POB dont make the Falcata a poor performer in any way, but they diminish its speed and agility, make it strenuous to swing (I had to put on my medieval bracers, but hey, whats tendonitis, anyway?) and turn it into something more like a tool than a sword. I guess, with a slightly shorter blade (maybe 20 instead of 21 ¼), a more pronounced taper and deeper fullers, the Falcata might get considerably lighter (and, more important than the actual weight, the POB might come closer to the guard, making it less blade-heavy).
A minor problem was introduced by my flawed design, and I actually anticipated it (unfortunately, after I mailed the model). Somewhere between Reno and Germany, the handle cracked at the crooked part. I think, omitting the basically useless pin at this position (there wont me much lateral stress at this position) and/or placing a small brass sleeve over the curve might prevent this.
So, enough of this negative stuff, otherwise Ill start to dislike myself. Despite the weight problem, I am more than happy to own something as unique and beautiful as the Falcata. The unique handle works great, and together with the full curve of the Falcata, it greatly increases your opportunity to sever off your own leg
. The handle is excellently done, very smooth (like a finish with 600 grit sandpaper), without even the slightest rough spot caused by the full tang construction. It fits my hand perfectly, but I guess I shouldnt be surprised about that.And the scabbard well, my English isnt good enough, so the often over-used word awesome has to come to the rescue, when actually a poem would be needed. OK, I could add breath-taking, overwhelming, and so on, but I guess you got my point. Oh, of course, fit and finish of the blade rate 11 out of 10. And besides the weight issue, everything is absolutely faithful to the model.
So much for now (long post considered that I have handled the Falcata less than 40 minutes yet), Ill post a more complete review somewhere next week (Dont have the time and opportunity here and now, and I have to get used to the momentum this blade generates first, anyway. I like my legs the way the are, no improvements needed yet)
