Tools of The Apocalypse: The Big Bad Wolf & The Diphos

Ok. Now, you can bring on the end times, the hordes of undead…

That might be weird to read – what with the breakdown of law and order, society, and human decency going on all around me and my loved ones. I'll grant you.

But, on the flip side, it WILL give me a chance to let these BAD ASS new blades I got from ZT (Zombie Tools) live out what they were FORGED to do:

fuck…shit…up.

  

But before we take a look at the ins and outs of these vicious steel monsters, let’s go back and take a look at the mindset of the man (me) who – with 2 kids, a lofty mortgage, and a wife not-too-keen on the idea of purchasing expensive heirloom weapons – decided to take a chance, blow some hard-earned cash (approximately $1500), and snatch up some nigh-indestructible steel appeal that was guaranteed (from the research) to stand the test of time.

Burned

Anyone who has ever seen any of my past posts here, on All Swords, or SBG on Facebook knows that I ran into some, ahem…unfortunate events…in my sword purchasing past. Events that only the buying of better, sturdier, higher-quality blades could cure.

Tough

And, needless to say, while I do have a deep respect for HEMA and its practitioners, I was not looking for a Talhofer or Fiore-accurate historical piece I could call my own.

I wanted something different. Something that was a little fantasy, a little out of line in terms of traditional conceptions of construction and design, and swords that I KNEW had the durability (and rock-solid reputation) to hit like a truck and not crack, fly apart, bend, chip, or otherwise do things that would make me cry.

No, but close...

Thanks to guys like Michael Ceracchi, Skallagrim, and ChanmailleMan (Aidan), I found them:

The Big Bad Wolf & 
The Diphos  

The Big Bad Wolf

Back in 2014, I got my first taste of the BIG BAD WOLF (go to about 3:00 mins in). Though almost COMPLETELY different from today’s version (and absolutely in the prototype form), I loved the idea of a two-handed, Viking-style, functional fantasy blade from artists who knew what they were about.

After seeing them destroy the original Deuce, I knew this sword - and the boys at Zombie Tools - would warrant a close watch.

When the specs of the sword dropped in 2015 (achieving a power level that was easily over 9000), the Big Bad Wolf seemed heavy, expensive, formed like a “sharpened bar,” to be sure, and my EVERYTHING.

I decided I had to have it. Next sword purchase (whenever that was) it was mine.

Today, after so much waiting, argument, holding her in my hands, and experiencing the raw power she offers, I can comfortably and definitively say it absolutely is. Take my word for it, this Wolf leads the pack, and lives up to its pig-petrifying name in EVERY WAY possible. 

But like Conan said back in the 80’s, “ENOUGH TALK!”

Let’s get down to what we all came here to see: pics and videos!

Official Blade Specs:

Total Length: 40 in (1.02 m)

Blade Length: 29 in (.74m)

Handle Length: 11 in (.28m)

Grip Size: 7.5 in (.19 m)

Steel Width: .25 in (6.35mm)

Steel Type: 5160 Carbon Spring Steel

Weight: 3lbs 13oz (1.73kg)

Availability: RETIRED

Price: $724 (MSRP)

Product Features:

• Handsome Center-Line Bevel
• Reinforced Handle Elements
• Weight-Reducing Distal Taper
• Secondary Steel Plated Pommel And Guard
• Neolithic Styling
• 2.5-Inch Center Of Balance From Top Hand
• Durable Kydex Sheath
• Comes complete with "Fuck Yeah" Feeling

Blade of the Gods: The Diphos

The design of the SECOND weapon in my recently-updated arsenal must have come from Athena, Odysseus’ girl, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare herself, because it is just DIVINE.

Featuring a broad leaf-blade with wide head, the NASTIEST stabbing point I have ever seen on sword, and a two-handed grip, this short bladed, long-handled merchant of death more than measures up to the durability standards ZT is known for. Even more than that, it takes almost no effort to get through almost any target.

Seriously, if get this sword even up to HALF speed and it will rip through and destroy even the toughest objects (within reason) like Ivan Drago when you let it off the leash (including you, so be careful).

Cut a ways into the pell...yikes

But before I show you (again instead of all this telling), I have to give ALL the inspiration for THIS purchase to one man: Skallagrim.

His in-depth Diphos video was not only an awe-inspiring, real-time, steel-clad fashion show for us sword nerds, but also meticulously informative, almost the point of annoyance (not at all, really).

Check it out 

The Diphos Gallery: 

Official Blade Specs:

Total Length:   35.5 in (.90m)

Blade Length: 25 in (.64m)

Handle Length: 10.5 in (.27m)

Grip Size: 8 in (.20m)

Steel Width: .25 in (6.4mm)

Steel Type: 5160

Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz (1.3 kg)

Availability: 6-8 week wait time.

Release Date: March 2014 (Retirement Date: June 2018-ish)

Price: $649.95

The Taste of the Tang
The one thing that enamors me most about both blades, and deserves serious mention - other than their masochistic durabilities, sleek, in-your face acid-etched designs, and impressive handling characteristics - is the entirely WOODLESS tangs.

To quote the ZT website:

"Our handles are made from T-6 aluminum that is pinned onto the tang with mild steel pins. They do not come off.  Our blades are full-tang, battle-ready, sharpened and sheathed pieces of 5160 and 6150 spring steel that we heat-treat to yield a 55 Rockwell hardness. Our bevels are saber-grinds and our edge bevels run at about 19 degrees."

And they will slice through your crappy Honda civic like a juiced up lightsaber! (alright, I made that up).

But I do LOVE that these beasts are SPECIALLY-DESIGNED to take heavy punishment all while maintaining most of the essentials of a well-built sword. This makes them pretty close to one GIANT Center of Percussion (CoP), and my new favorite things in the universe (sorry kids).   

A Word of Warning:

However, after all of this ZT ball washing, I do want this review to be as unbiased as it can be for both of these bad Betties. The only real words of caution I would offer would be watch out for the edge of the Big Bad Wolf (not hair shaving sharp) and the sheath on the Diphos.

For the Diphos sheath, seriously, what in the world is going on with this design (see above)? The “lips” (let’s call them) do comfortably keep the blade locked in place and prevented from sliding out, yes. But they also make it nearly IMPOSSIBLE for the blade to be drawn quickly and efficiently.

You have to exert some serious strength to get her out of there, and if your hand slips or anything gets in the way of that blade when she’s ejaculating from that sheath at the speed of sound, you’ll slice your shit down to the bone or clean off (not kidding).

I, for one, plan to file them down.

Funny thing is though, this is ON PURPOSE!

The boys at Zombie Tools themselves shed a little light:

"There’s a small trick to unsheathing our blades. Our Kydex sheaths are formed to have a pressure lock on the handle. If you just grab the sheath with one hand and the handle with the other and pull, the unsheathing can be difficult and awkward. The trick is to use your thumb to pop the sheath off the handle lock. Grab the sheath with one hand and the handle with the other and use the thumb of your handle hand to push the sheath off of the blade while gently pulling at the same time. You’ll also want to turn the blade so that the edge is facing up and the blade rides on its spine as you unsheath. This is especially helpful with our curved blades."

As far as the edge on the blade of the Big Bad Wolf, I think maybe it depends on the kind of target you are slicing through (I hate you Ocean Spray bottles), and of course the angle at which you are cutting. If you use heavier plastic targets (see Diphos video) or ANYTHING heavier than wood, the outcome will be drastically different (and worse, I am guessing) than, say, thinner water bottles, tatami mats, ballistic gel heads, or your daughter's boyfriend you catch getting handsy with your little angel. Also, the Wolf is less forgiving with last-second handle rolls or off-line cuts (I'm working on it over here!)

But in the long run, these things amount to practically nothing.

Final Thoughts:

Buy them both (though the Wolf is retired. Get it second-hand).

It's as simple as that.

Neither sword is "HEMA-tested, HEMA-approved" by any real means, but they aren't supposed to be. What they ARE built to be is rough and ready, heavy metal killing machines that absolutely stand tall against tremendous shock without ever missing a beat.

They feel amazing (lighter and more nimble than their overall weight would dictate), look better than I could have ever hoped to find on the market without going custom, and COMMAND the respect all REAL practitioners of our beloved hobby/obsession should always give to their swords.

They excel where other, lesser blades have bent, broken, or just plain quit, and for that, they have EARNED my unyielding love and admiration, indefinitely.

Pick em up, and happy cutting!

COLLECTORS REC.

The Big Bad Wolf and Diphos were built to cut, so why stop at water bottles? If you'd like to experience what these blades are truly capable of, and Z heads are in short supply, rolled tatami mats are one of the best cutting mediums available. They offer the realistic resistance, reward proper edge alignment, and are widely used by big swinging sword dicks everywhere to evaluate both blade performance and technique. Pair them with a rock-solid cutting stand, and you'll have one of the most rewarding slicing experiences you can get. Get em both!

SWORD STAND & TATAMI MATS

The DSA Claymore: Under the Hood

First and foremost, this is not a post to bash Darksword Armory.

I have plenty of other posts that expound upon the virtues of their services and the quality of their products.

In fact, it was meant to be quite the opposite.

I sincerely wanted to give them another chance and prove myself wrong; thinking that the build of the majority of their products was off.

I wanted to break down the hilt of this blade and see a wide, thick tang staring back at me, so I could:

• Post and publish the “under the hood” information
• Stop all the “DSA bashing” that generally comes from my camp
• Send the sword to Wes for a newer, tighter handle to improve the sword

And, that is generally how things started off:

Nice Wrapping:

Then…well….I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. Mine are already etched in stone: 

The Measurements:

Width of the Tang at the Widest: 5/8 of an inch

Width of the Tang at the thinnest: Between 1/8 and ¼ of an inch

Thickness of the Tang (Flat): ¾ of an inch

I’m not going to say another word.
  

Happy Swording to all...

Collector's Rec: Gunsmithing Tool Kit

Sometimes owning the sword isn't enough. Sometimes you need to know what the hell is inside it.

A good gunsmithing tool kit gives collectors a useful assortment of precision bits and hand tools for tightening fittings, working on removable hilts and generally investigating what your latest acquisition is actually made of.

Just remember: once you take the hilt apart, you can't unsee what's underneath.

👉 Check Out Top Gunsmithing Tool Kits RIGHT HERE

How Do I Convince My Wife To Let Me Buy An Expensive Sword?:

Ah, the age old question.

I think women are genetically predisposed to objecting to sword purchases. There was a flaming sword that kept Eve out of the Garden of Paradise after they ate the forbidden fruit, so I am assuming that hatred for sharp shiny things comes from there.

But, I have actually been through this exact situation before.

And, I want to help you and all my brothers and sisters of the sword who have to go through the painstaking process of actually getting what they want at the price they are willing to pay.

Planning My Attack: 

To give you a little bit of background, my wife is a school teacher and says “no” to shithead teenagers all day. She also teaches “Argument for Public Speaking” to High Schoolers, so my task to try and convince her this is a necessary purchase is doubly difficult. 

But, I do have a pretty decent collection, so I must be doing something right, yeah? Maybe she is just nice. Yeah, we’ll go with that (hi, hun!)

What You Can Do:

There are several things you can do to get the sword you want; keeping in mind it is not a $5000 custom work (then you’re on your own).

1) If you have any additional sources of income (freelancing, second job, lotto tickets, etc) use those

2) Use birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions/accomplishments to justify

3) Promise you won’t buy one for an extended period of time (“If I get this one, I won’t buy another for a year.” It was 2 in my case. I have 4 months and 8 days left)

4) Sign up for a new credit card, buy the sword, pay off the CC in small amounts every month

5) Have an open and honest discussion with her (just make sure the bills are paid, first).

"Hun, I have done my research, and this is the best sword I will ever own. The bills are paid and more aren’t due until next month-ish and we have the money. This is something I am passionate about and I would like to be able to learn properly with the tools that are available to me on the market.”

If she doesn't respond to your hard work and reasoning, well then, she's like every other wife out there. Ha! But, you have to try.

6) Buy it and ask forgiveness with something nice for her that you NEVER do (get dressed up and take her out, flowers, day at the spa, etc.)

7) Talk about the consistent resale value of a high-priced sword like an Albion or Christian Fletcher. You can always put it back on the market and it should go quickly, due to the small sword community you are a part of.

8) Look on eBay and the SBG Sale Forums to find the sword at a lower price. You can always try and negotiate with the seller, let them know your situation, then show your wife the savings when you get it.

If none of these work, then use combinations, just beg (no, don't), or forget the purchase for now and revisit. LOL. Every marital situation is different, as is every wife. 

If you don’t know how to navigate her, should you really be married in the first place? Just kidding…or am I?

Bottom line: You have one shot at life. Buy the Albion. 

Good luck!

Collector's Rec.

You convinced your spouse.

Don't waste the victory.

Treat your new sword like the investment it is with a proper maintenance kit. A little Renaissance Wax, a microfiber cloth, and regular care will keep rust at bay and ensure your "one sword for the next two years" still looks brand new when you're making your case for the next one.

EXPERT SWORD & KNIFE CLEANING KIT

Should I Buy Swords from Darksword Armory?

It’s a simple question that both experienced collectors and those handling their first sword can and should ask themselves. 

The simple answer is: NO.

Unequivocally, and unapologetically, swords from Darksword Armory are, at this present time, flashy...well-drawn...5160 steel (which is great steel)...pieces of shit.  

Now, it might be easy for some of you to say, “Huh??! WHOA! You sour grapes little butt-hurt bitch! That is way too strong! Not to mention its only your opinion. From the looks of them, and for the price, I am totally getting mine.”

You’re right it is strong. I'll give it to you. You’re absolutely 100% correct.

It is also a fair assessment of a reputation that has been EARNED, rest assured.  

But, far be it for me to get between a fool and his money. We all know how that relationship ends, right?

You can choose to stop reading, go buy one, and WASTE your hard-earned cash on these half-assed  sword-like-objects if you want to.

That's your choice. ‘Murica, and all.

Or, do you care to stay a while and listen?

Doing so just might save you THOUSANDS on swords.

Stroll with me…

The Now Dimmed-Side of Darksword:

As we know from my previous blog about Darkswords (let’s just combine Darksword Armory and swords, shall we?), there have been a host of issues with a number of their weapons; ranging from their Claymore ($445) to their Guardian ($425) to their Wolfsbane ($700), to presently, their now-discontinued (shocker)

 Faenor Sword ($500+)

These issues included:

·Bent Blades
·Loose Fittings
·Scuffs & Dings
·Shoddy Sharpening
·Secondary Bevels

The list just goes on and on from clients who have had these REALLY EXPENSIVE first-hand calamities befall their blades, some on little more than 2 liter water bottles!

Head to About 8:00 mins

But like Skallagrim and the others, my main gripe with Darksword fell, and still falls, with something that is ABSOLUTELY VITAL and ESSENTIAL to the soul of the sword. It is something that no sword can be swung without....

That’s right.

I’m talking about THE HANDLE, THE HILT, THE GRIP…WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

This area of almost ALL the Darkswords I have handled is where their efforts literally FALL APART.

Steel Reparations:

Again, from my previous Darksword blog, you know my DSA Guardian sword died on me.

In recapp, it broke TWICE (just like my DSA claymore did) – meaning the sword was bent at the tang, the wood of the grip was cracked, the “peened” (which means simply screwed on overweight metal piece) pommel was about to fly apart almost on the next swing.

The thing was sickly.

And, for a time, I followed along meekly with the instructions from DSA; sending everything back to Montreal, and called it great customer service.

But after the most recent event, when the Guardian broke for a 2ND time (summer of 2016-ish), I decided to take a stand and stop doing that back and forth, JV mailing bullshit.

Instead, this time around, I opted for a second opinion from this man (mad genius that he is):

Wes Beem at Lonely Wolf Forge.

Wes took the hilt apart and laughed hysterically (rightfully so):

The mirror was shattered and I was pissed.

Something had to be done.

The Carpathian Plan:

Instead of having them botch the repair job AGAIN, which is evident from repair experience 1 to repair experience 2, I made an agreement with them:

“Good morning Darksword Armory,

We recently discussed the defects with the tang on my Guardian sword. You attributed it to smith negligence (for which he was dismissed, thankfully), and spoke of constructing a new one for me to the specifications and quality that I need in order to have a "battle ready" DSA weapon on hand.

Seeing that an outside smith is presently correcting the issues on the one that I received for my wedding back in 2012, and a duplicate of the same functional sword would seem redundant, would your forge be amenable to offering me a well-constructed Carpathian Sword in its place?

I want to keep faith and support with your forge, and I believe that receiving a well-made, properly-constructed sword of the same monetary value (if not sentimental value) as the Guardian would go far in assuring our relationship stay intact.

Please let me know that you agree. If so, you can send the newly forged Carpathian sword to:

My address.

Looking forward to your positive response,
Michael”

To which I received:

“Hi Mike,

We will send you the Carpathian Sword, not a problem. It will be shipped out next week latest. Thanks.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you,

Michael

Darksword Armory Inc.”

(NOTE: Let them try and deny it. I have the original email)

I waited and it finally arrived…

A Carpathian Christmas:
Before we jump ahead, this sword arrived, true to their word, on October 24th. In my infinite wisdom, I decided to give myself a nice little gift for Christmas. I decided to wait 2 MONTHS; thinking that if I had the patience, dad could give himself a little something on Christmas that he knew his wife was not going to give him.

Dumb fuck.

The Heel Test:

After celebrating the birth of the tiny, 8lb 9oz baby Jesus, I busted the DSA Carpathian out the box, and took a firm grip....

Immediately, I could tell that, AGAIN, this steel turd was polished.

Like the previous swords of its ilk that I had received from DSA, it felt solid in some places and totally wobbly in others.

I decided to give it my Heel Test – gently rapping the heel of my hand against the blade somewhere near the ricasso and see how the vibrations traveled throughout the steel and the entire sword.

I knew that, by doing this test, I would be able to experience a pretty significant difference in the overall movement of the blade when struck (much less), as I had on the Guardian Wes had regripped for me.

The Carpathian shook from pommel to tip like FUCKING SLINKY - an obvious sign that the tang was far too narrow and there was PLENTY of space for shit to move around. 

Off to the Wolf:

I couldn’t believe it!

I had specifically asked them to make me a well-made, properly-constructed sword! I gave them simple instructions to follow:

"...receiving a well-made, properly-constructed sword of the same monetary value..."

and this was their “We’re sorry” piece to make amends???

The message was clear:

'We at Darksword don’t give a shit that you are dissatisfied. Here is another rotten banana, monkey. Now, fuck off. (paraphrasing)'

At least, that is how I felt about it.

So, off to Wes and Lonely Wolf Forge, THAT ONE went too!

Am I Right, or Am I Right?

But the kicker of this whole mess was that I didn't KNOW for sure that the sword had another shitty tang.

I was praying I was wrong.

Once it went to Lonely Wolf, Wes smashed the core of the hilt on the Carpathian in real time as I was chatting with him on FB messenger. I just couldn’t wait to find out if I had a dud (like I suspected) or not.

Turns out, my suspicions were well-founded:

Cue the continued Wes Beem laughter (well-deserved).

There wasn't a drop of epoxy on the tang or the handle, Wes told me, and when he smashed it to fix it, it quite literally fell to pieces. 

Darksword had swindled me again.

They’d hear about it.

A Strongly Worded Letter:

Along with tons of social media commentary and photos, I wrote DSA their “Dear John” pretty much after I received their shitty replacement sword:

“Hey Darksword, 

After handling the sword you sent me to replace the Guardian Sword with the tiny tang, I sent it out to a blacksmith friend out in Ohio. Somehow, it just didnt feel right. It just didnt ring right when I slapped the hilt with the palm of my hand. 

And, you know what happened? You know what we discovered? Can you guess?? You sent me ANOTHER dangerous, skinny, rat-tail tanged weapon that wouldnt be safe to cut a pool noodle with! Shocker. 

Please understand, I will no longer be buying any of your products, as I no longer have any faith in them. Please believe me that all that "GREAT" customer service you're so proud of is not going to make up for the shoddy construction of your weapons.

And rest assured, I am going to make sure people know it. The construction of your weapons is horrible, and the fact that you blatantly lie to your customers throughout your website - durability, tough, hand-made in Canada - is deplorable.

We're a small community - the sword world - and word travels fast.

A former fan,

Michael”  

DARKSWORD’S REPLY:
 

“Hi Michael,

We do agree this one was also thinner than what we usually have although you can have a 2 inch wide tang that has been poorly tempered / not tempered and bend it with ease as opposed to, for example, a ¼ inch wide tang that has been properly heat treated and tempered that will be structurally sound and excessively difficult to bend.

There is no reason to overbuild a sword.

We stand by our products 100% because we are absolutely confident about our workmanship and products. We have only had 1 event where a sword broke during destructive tests, and recently under skull’s review of the Feanor, where the wood handle cracked due to vibrations.

Our swords have been reviewed on youtube by hundreds of people, only two or three failed, and those who do, we honored and corrected the issue. Fact is, our swords are internationally known to be among the toughest swords on the market and certainly one of the best swords for price/quality ratio. As Paul Southern’s (SBG owner) coined the term, Darksword Armory swords “are tough as nails.”

That said however, It's quite obvious you aren't satisfied with our products. I have created a prepaid label to get the Carpathian Sword back. I have also attached the commercial invoice you will need to send it back.

We agreed that you would send the Guardian Sword back but we never received it. So we would like this one returned since it was never paid for.

IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER PROVIDER FROM HERE ON OUT.”

I shit you not. This is all verbatim.

Their company actually TOLD me to stop buying their products. Best advice they have given in our entire relationship.

But, it can’t end there….it is Darksword, after all. 

MY FINAL REPLY:

“Darksword, 

That Carpathian sword was given to me as a replacement gesture for the shoddy work on my Guardian sword. I have an email chain that has one of your employees, if not Eyal himself, agreeing to ship the Carpathian to me under such an arrangement. I did not send the Guardian sword back to you, as work had already been done on it by an independent smith after it broke. 

In short, I am not sending the Carpathian back to you at all now, as I am spending money to have the hilt core redone completely, a new wrap put on, and the pommel recentered, as needed to be done. 

Also, rest assured, I will NEVER buy from you again. You can stand by your sub-par imported weapons all you want, but there is no hiding the truth from customers when the evidence is right in front of them through photos. 

I will consider this matter closed from this point. Please do not contact me again. 

Sincerely, 

Michael”

The End?

Probably not. From a company that treats their customers this way, blatantly lies about the quality of their products on their website, and then responds like this when ONE client tries to have them make amends?

I suspect I’ll get some sort of angry, shot from-the-hip retort, possibly even a phone call from some squirrely Canuck lawyer.

I stand unafraid.

The Bottom Line:

Just don’t buy from Darksword Armory. Period.

The odds that you WON’T get a lizard-tailed cinderblock that is built on a bendy straw (thanks Wes) are astronomically small.

In fact, they’re just about as likely as me getting 1 of the 6 swords that went out fucked up back when their now-fired employee was grinding down the tangs (their actual excuse when Wes broke my Guardian).  

My Advice:
This is what a proper tang should look like:

Tang Dimensions:
And, according to the experts who do this shit WELL for a living, the dimensions of a proper tang should be, and I am directly quoting well-respected bladesmith Tom Kinder,

"3/4" to 7/8" is the size of the tang at its fattest; tapering down to half inch for the keyed section inserted into pommel then 1/4" threads to finish and provide compression." 

Keyed & Hex Nut Tangs & Pommels:

Also, should responsible companies choose to key their pommels (which can be very wise), and again, I am quoting other well-known blacksmith Wes Beem at Lonely Forge,

"a properly keyed tang with a hex nut is acceptably durable. Its not as durable as a hot-peened and keyed tang, but it is a large step in the right direction because the keying removes a lot of the stress. not all but a lot."

Darksword Armory, apparently, believes in none of these things and follows through on NONE of these things when constructing their weapons.

Think I am whining?

Check out all the DSA examples as far back as 2009 (Archer's Arming Sword) on the SBG Construction Database . 

Talk to people like Jonathan Sarge, Dean Marino, and others on the All Swords Facebook Group who have taken apart legions of these things and seen DSA's "good" work firsthand.

Ask around with people in the sword community who have owned one of these things only to have it essentially DISINTEGRATE in their hands; turning their $500+ into burnt paper.  

"Save for An Angus..."

Staring down this shit sandwich, the best thing you can do - even as a novice - is save for an Angus Trim, Michael Tinker, an Albion, a Valiant Armory, or even a Zombie Tools sword.

Again, ask around about custom smiths who are building their reputations and businesses and WANT to make you an exceptional sword that you can write home about.

Production Options:
If it is production-level swords and cost-effectiveness you need, get feedback from many experts and collectors alike (they'll probably tell you Hanwei Tinker for Euros and give you insight into the issues with many other specific companies).

Furthermore, ask to see the dimensions of the sword – tang and all before you buy – from the vendor (excellent idea Dean Marino).

The SBG Sword Construction Database has more information about what proper tangs are supposed to look like, and how they are supposed to be held together.

If the company wont or doesn’t want to give you the dimensions, or what the tang looks like broken down, then their just not proud of their products, are trying to hide something, or just KNOW that you wont like what you see b/c they KNOW they have fundamental issues with their swords. 

"SEEING THE LIGHT..."
As far as Darksword and I are concerned...

I...AM...DONE.

Until they address that there is an issue with the way their Chinese forgers make their sword tangs and FIX THE FUCKING PROBLEM, they can never, in my opinion, be considered swords that are worth my time and treasure.

Swing steel that's worth your hand. God speed.

Collector's Rec:

Regardless of which sword you ultimately choose (make it something other than DSA, PLEASE) one thing I recommend to every collector is proper blade care and maintenance. High-carbon steel deserves regular care, and Renaissance Wax has become one of the industry's most trusted products for protecting swords against fingerprints, moisture, and long-term corrosion.

You spent the cash. Why lose your sword to pitting and rust?

Musashi Katana & Improved DSA Guardian Cutting Videos

Before the weather took a turn for the shitty here in the Bay State, I was able to get out and do some cutting with a couple of swords I had wanted to try for some time.

One, the Musashi Katana, was something that I had from my impetuous infantile days of sword collecting when Lord of the Rings was God, and I didn’t have clue one.

The other, well, the other was a new and improved DSA model that Wes Beem from Lonely Forge was able to turn from a pile of skinny steel shit (pretty much) to a moderately-salvageable heirloom from my wedding day. You can read all about that sad story right HERE.

But, without further ado, I present to you, my most recent cutting vids. Enjoy!

Musashi Katana

Improved DSA Guardian

 

The Bright Side of Darksword: The Guardian

Darksword Armory's Guardian Sword

It was a wedding gift: 

A special request:

An inscribed heirloom presented to me by the best friends I had in the world:

It was a sword I had coveted for so long that it alone was what sustained my actual desire for sharp steel, unquestioningly, before I bought it:

At the time, it was my "Angus Trim," my "Albion." 

I posted blogs about it:

BECOMING THE GUARDIAN

Featured it prominently: 

GUARDIAN VS. CARPATHIAN

When I received it, I made montages of it and praised its prowess: 

I even went so far as to swallow some fears, take to YouTube, and create some informational (and hopefully entertaining) cutting videos with it:

Yeah, this 5 lb steel dream-come-true had that look, that feel, you know? 

Touted as "full tang," "hot peen," the works, it was my go-to Euro, and my main cutter. It was the sword I said I would carry into battle if battle ever came down to Midgard.

RAGNAROK EXPLAINED

In short, I loved it.

But then things mysteriously began to unravel.

After light cutting in the yard, the pommel came loose. Nothing too serious, but when you have this picture of reliability in your head, and you expect performance, you're still a little surprised when something goes amiss.

Naturally, I contacted Darksword Armory.

True to form - and living up to their reputation of service - they said for me to send it back and they would handle all the repairs, FREE OF CHARGE.

Nice.

And, though sending back the sword via USPS (and ONLY USPS) across international borders into Canada was a chore, and expensive ($35 one way), this was MY Guardian! Come on, no-brainer right?

I did. It came back. Nothing was loose, everything back to normal.

I kept cutting.

Not too long ago, the pommel loosened again.

THE FUCK is going on here??

I decided then to send it to a friend - an independent bladesmith and mad genius with damaged swords - Wes Beem, instead of sending it back to Canada (and Darksword) one last time.

He made a truly SHOCKING discovery:

I....WAS....FLOORED.

"This can't be," I thought. "These things range in price anywhere from $340 for their basic model swords to $1950 for their "elite" Damascus steel models! How is THIS allowed to happen??!"

Needless to say, when shared on social media, the responses from the intelligent sword owners and smiths within our small community went as expected:

"This thing sells for $1600 and they offer it sharpened? Hope no one tries to cut with theirs..."

"And I used to cut shit with a DSA....scary stuff."

" Built like a brick shit house all on that anorexic threaded tang..." 

"I have the DSA that *** reviewed now and i will only cut bottles with it cause I dont wanna die."

"I own a DSA and I think she`s beautiful. 5160 steel, case hardened and sharp convex grind. However... after reading through this thread and seeing your examples... I think I`ll just leave her up on the wall."

"See, that's why I join this group! A few posts read and already I learned much!" 

I needed more. I needed to take action!

The justified reactions, and my own searing discontent, prompted me to reach out to Darksword Armory PERSONALLY and find some sort of solace, some sort of recourse for the TRAUMA I had just experienced from the utter failure of this weapon:

My Letter to Darksword:

"Hey guys,
One of the swords I received from your forge, the Guardian, broke again recently. I had sent this back to you once before - along with my DSA claymore (which broke twice). 

I decided, this time, to reach out to a smith friend of mine who does custom work and repairs on broken blades. He took the sword apart and needless to say, the tang, pommel, guard, and most of the grip was...um..less than secure. 

Frankly, I was SHOCKED to see hex nuts and glue where there should have been a hot peen, a noodle-like tang where there should have been 2 inches of hard steel in terms of tang width, and a widening crack in the wooden handle underneath the wrap after only some light cutting with backyard water bottles. 

 
My smith friend is doing what he can now to remedy this shoddy construction.

As it is a 2012 model - before your upgraded to the 5160 steel, and before you made improvements to the construction of your swords - I am going to allow you to make this right. I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, because in the past, I have been a BIG supporter of your forge. 

Ideally, as this is a wedding gift, as a suggestion in terms of recompense, I would appreciate it if you made me a new Guardian with a FULL, STRONG, WIDE tang, a hot-peened, secured pommel, and the words "PALS" inscribed down the blade, approximately 3 inches down the ricasso (as was the case with the previous one). 

I am anxiously awaiting your response to this proposal and an explanation as to why these "battle ready" swords have such skinny, DANGEROUS tangs attached to 5lbs of sharpened pieces of steel.

Sincerely,

Michael"

Darksword's Reply:

"Hi Mike Terry, 

Looking at the tang we can tell this was a sword that was manufactured and shipped back in 2015 (nope, but go on). At the time we had a new employee that was grinding the tangs down instead of making the handles to fit the width of the tang. 

Once we received a couple of returns, Eyal unassembled the returns and found out what the employee was doing, he was therefore immediately dismissed from Darksword. This was a short temporary issue and we're very sorry you were one of the few. 

We would be glad to replace the Guardian for a proper one AT OUR COST. Please email us at info@darksword-armory.com with your information. Thanks."

Again, true to form, Darksword got back to me promptly and gave me a personalized solution to my issue.

ME:
"That is excellent news and in line with the kind of customer experience that I have come to know from Darksword! I will email you, for sure. 

It does beg the question though, is the happening more often than not? I am hearing from many other people that this is the norm for Darksword Armory weapons, and that is disconcerting to me.

Lack of hot peens? Shoddy guard grips? Hollow handles that don't squeeze the tang tightly? 

Would your company be amenable to a list of defections that might keep people from buying your products and incorporate those fixes (cost effectively?) I am a fan of Darksword, but you cant shake people's faith like that and expect to skate."

Darksword:

"Hi Mike, absolutely not (in response to my "Is the happening more often than not?" question, I think). 

We (Darksword) give 110% when producing our blades and providing optimal assembly. It can happen that with all our daily tasks, things can be missed, unfortunately. But we work hard to get where we want to be everyday and maintaining that can prove to be a challenge sometimes. I hope this doesn’t stir you away from our dedication and support."

A Dose of Reality:

Now, let's be honest about some things. 

All swords, from cheap Pakistani SLOs (sword-like-objects) to master smith dream works can break. They did in live battle back in the Middles Ages, and they do today. 

I know this. We all do. 

Also, to be truthful, the 5160 steel tang never snapped or broke anywhere, just the other hilt components attached to it. The tempering seemed fine.

But there is one thing I would like to focus on in this entire transaction - the bright side of things in this whole expensive shitty mess: Darksword was there for me, as their customer, when I needed them.

Seems to me...:

Whatever you feel about Darksword, no one can take away from the quality of their personalized and prompt service. It's very evident to me that they care about their customers.

That being said, 

• Does Darksword have fundamental flaws in their sword assembly and hilt components? In my estimation, YES they do. 

• Do these flaws seem to influence customers concerning the "battle-tested" promise they were given by the company; causing them to ask themselves: 

"Am I holding a trumped-up wall hanger in my hand, or do I have complete faith in the company's claims of "lasting durability?"

Undoubtedly.

And though that's a big gamble to take - and a lot to ask of common people (mostly untrained) who are swinging around 3-5lb pieces of sharpened steel; just praying for them not to fly apart and potentially take off an appendage - Darksword TRIES.

What does that mean? It means that, unlike Cold Steel who will sue you for using the term San Mai (shhh), Darksword does certain things that EARN your (wary) loyalty.

• They WILL call you/email you back, promptly and investigate 
• They WILL accept the responsibility of fixing the flaws in their sword hilt constructions 
• And they WILL (or at least have for me OVER THE ENTIRE COURSE OF ANY ISSUES IV'E EXPERIENCED) assume the costs for you to make sure things turn out right, in the end. 

Effort Counts:
Does that mean that all is forgiven? In the words of Darksword "absolutely not."

Would I recommend Darksword Armory to someone just starting out and looking for a "high-quality" blade? Yeah, I think I still would, but now with reservations and explanations that this kind of situation COULD happen to them.

But what wouldn't I do?  I would NEVER say that they just didn't give a shit when things go south. Eyal and his crew take the time to respond to their customers, understand their needs, and do their brand of justice for their consumers. They put in the work when something goes wrong, and in my estimation, you HAVE TO respect that.

Whether their swords come from India, China, or Montreal (ive heard China then Montreal), if Darksword could translate that kind of customer service into their assembly, could they be one of the best swordmakers on the market? A big fat "yes." 

Will they? Only time will tell.