Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Oct 3, 2010 10:13:19 GMT -5
Angus Trim/Valiant Armoury Type Xa
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
Atlanta, GA
3 October2010
Gus Trim , in connection with Sonny Suttles of Valiant Armoury and Christian Fletcher, has been creating the most exciting renaissance in Western production swords that I personally have ever seen. With a full range of choices , from the Gus designed Performance line to the very nicely presented (low) mid-ranged priced signature series, to full-on Atrims in a variety of mounts by Sonny, or Christian. In a world that was dominated by Windlass and Depeeka not to many years ago, this is exciting indeed... finally, fully mounted western swords, that are designed well, cut well and mounted to a level of fit and finish that katanaphiles have been enjoying for a decade. There will always be a place for Albion, and their contemporaries, but the offerings that Gus is presenting covers the range of the market and offers quality swords for all, regardless of budget... Can you folks tell I'm excited?
I owe Gus an apology, this review has been too long in the coming... but I also feel that the time is right now, with these availiable in the VA store, and with the creation of the new forum .
" Oakeshott began his typology with the Type X (ten). This design featured a blade with a broad cutting surface and a semi-serviceable thrusting point. This type saw a wide range of use throughout the Viking age and early Middle Ages, so much so that it might be seen as the defining design of that period. A variation of this design is listed within this typology as the Type Xa. Oakeshott described the Type Xa as being identical to the Type X, with the exception of a fuller that is distinctly more narrow than that of the Type X. In spite of this rather minute difference, as noted by Oakeshott, most surviving examples considered to be of the type feature more subtle differences. While these types exhibit Oakeshott's narrow fuller, they also possess blades that are slightly longer and have more profile taper than their earlier counterparts, thereby resulting in a blade that possess similar cutting abilities as well as increased thrusting potential."
illustration of type Xa
Specifications:
Blade: 32in.
Oal: 38.75 in
Grip: 4.25 in.
Cross: 7 .in
Pommel: 1 7/8
Weight: 2lbs. 5 ounces
COP : 21.5 in from cross
COB : 4.75 in from cross
Construction: Fit & Finish
The sword is made of 5160, precision milled on a CNC and then finished by hand by Gus Trim. The blade is then tempered by an Aero-space heat treater to a spring temper with a Rockwell hardness of 52. The grip is hardwood core, with leather over cord. Pommel and cross are mild steel. The sword is a compression hilt assembly secured by a permanent peen.
The polish is to a high satin , with straight clean lines and a well shaped central fuller.
Aesthetics
Sugata is ... wait, what? The type Xa blade has gently flared shoulders at the cross that is 2 1/8 inches wide. The 32 inch blade has noticeable profile taper and the fuller runs almost the length of the blade before tapering off.
The leather over cord grip is antique red , the pommel is a type J paired with a style 2 cross.
Handling Characteristics
Sword in hand, one can tell that the blade has authority, as a Xa should. Still though, the blade is lively and nimble especially if compared to its cousin ... the type X.
No doubt, the handling is aided by the flared shoulders which help bring mass hiltward, and aids in bringing the point of balance back to 4.75 in.
The grip makes for a good interface, with its tactile wrap, and variable shaping.
There is no doubt that one has an Atrim in hand when gripping this, and even a single-hand novice like myself can put put it comfortably through its paces.
Cutting
We could almost skip this section... I mean we we are talking about an Atrim right? But then again, wheres the fun in that? So cut we did... my son and I. Gus , knowing me, biased the sword towards heavier targets... as he knows I'm addicted to bamboo...LOL.
The Xa , of course cut well, single handed for me, and my son used it like a bastard sword...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_5eL9u7ZE
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
I'm really starting to hate this critical section, as I am so often reviewing awesome swords these days...its so hard to really find flaws... The Xa is a solid performer, and aesthetically pleasing. We all know Gus is a sword-maker not a handle-wrapper, but he did a pretty decent job on this one.. and at any rate the handles on the production models will be wrapped by Sonny...
Anyway, in the way of complaints, I guess we will have to mention the somewhat machined appearence of the furniture, which is a sticking point for some... not I . I think its just honest... this is a modern made , high performance replica, and was made to be used, not to impersonate a relic.
Conclusion
This is a winning design for Gus, with the performance characteristic of what we've come to expect from him.Also, this underscores the departure from the utilitarian performers of Gus past , and marking the new age, where a Gus Trim sword will look (almost) as good as it performs. There are some serious cosmetic improvements... primary bevels, permanent construction , upgraded polish, and a variety of other changes... like any one notice the leather's NOT black?
It's a sure bet to say that Gus, together with Christian and Sonny are forever changing the world of Western sword replicas; and changing it for the better.
This prototype , that will be a limited run production piece for VA, is a huge way-station on that route.
Gus Trim is stepping up to the plate with an incredible array of choices in every level of the market. From the VA performance, Signature and Regal lines... to the Chimera and Prestige lines ... the Legacy line and the Makers Mark series, and now these new protypes... Gus together with Sonny and Christian is truly creating an unheard of new-renaissance in the Euro sword market... lucky us.
Thanks for reading.
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
Atlanta, GA
3 October2010
Gus Trim , in connection with Sonny Suttles of Valiant Armoury and Christian Fletcher, has been creating the most exciting renaissance in Western production swords that I personally have ever seen. With a full range of choices , from the Gus designed Performance line to the very nicely presented (low) mid-ranged priced signature series, to full-on Atrims in a variety of mounts by Sonny, or Christian. In a world that was dominated by Windlass and Depeeka not to many years ago, this is exciting indeed... finally, fully mounted western swords, that are designed well, cut well and mounted to a level of fit and finish that katanaphiles have been enjoying for a decade. There will always be a place for Albion, and their contemporaries, but the offerings that Gus is presenting covers the range of the market and offers quality swords for all, regardless of budget... Can you folks tell I'm excited?
I owe Gus an apology, this review has been too long in the coming... but I also feel that the time is right now, with these availiable in the VA store, and with the creation of the new forum .
" Oakeshott began his typology with the Type X (ten). This design featured a blade with a broad cutting surface and a semi-serviceable thrusting point. This type saw a wide range of use throughout the Viking age and early Middle Ages, so much so that it might be seen as the defining design of that period. A variation of this design is listed within this typology as the Type Xa. Oakeshott described the Type Xa as being identical to the Type X, with the exception of a fuller that is distinctly more narrow than that of the Type X. In spite of this rather minute difference, as noted by Oakeshott, most surviving examples considered to be of the type feature more subtle differences. While these types exhibit Oakeshott's narrow fuller, they also possess blades that are slightly longer and have more profile taper than their earlier counterparts, thereby resulting in a blade that possess similar cutting abilities as well as increased thrusting potential."
illustration of type Xa
Specifications:
Blade: 32in.
Oal: 38.75 in
Grip: 4.25 in.
Cross: 7 .in
Pommel: 1 7/8
Weight: 2lbs. 5 ounces
COP : 21.5 in from cross
COB : 4.75 in from cross
Construction: Fit & Finish
The sword is made of 5160, precision milled on a CNC and then finished by hand by Gus Trim. The blade is then tempered by an Aero-space heat treater to a spring temper with a Rockwell hardness of 52. The grip is hardwood core, with leather over cord. Pommel and cross are mild steel. The sword is a compression hilt assembly secured by a permanent peen.
The polish is to a high satin , with straight clean lines and a well shaped central fuller.
Aesthetics
Sugata is ... wait, what? The type Xa blade has gently flared shoulders at the cross that is 2 1/8 inches wide. The 32 inch blade has noticeable profile taper and the fuller runs almost the length of the blade before tapering off.
The leather over cord grip is antique red , the pommel is a type J paired with a style 2 cross.
Handling Characteristics
Sword in hand, one can tell that the blade has authority, as a Xa should. Still though, the blade is lively and nimble especially if compared to its cousin ... the type X.
No doubt, the handling is aided by the flared shoulders which help bring mass hiltward, and aids in bringing the point of balance back to 4.75 in.
The grip makes for a good interface, with its tactile wrap, and variable shaping.
There is no doubt that one has an Atrim in hand when gripping this, and even a single-hand novice like myself can put put it comfortably through its paces.
Cutting
We could almost skip this section... I mean we we are talking about an Atrim right? But then again, wheres the fun in that? So cut we did... my son and I. Gus , knowing me, biased the sword towards heavier targets... as he knows I'm addicted to bamboo...LOL.
The Xa , of course cut well, single handed for me, and my son used it like a bastard sword...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_5eL9u7ZE
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
I'm really starting to hate this critical section, as I am so often reviewing awesome swords these days...its so hard to really find flaws... The Xa is a solid performer, and aesthetically pleasing. We all know Gus is a sword-maker not a handle-wrapper, but he did a pretty decent job on this one.. and at any rate the handles on the production models will be wrapped by Sonny...
Anyway, in the way of complaints, I guess we will have to mention the somewhat machined appearence of the furniture, which is a sticking point for some... not I . I think its just honest... this is a modern made , high performance replica, and was made to be used, not to impersonate a relic.
Conclusion
This is a winning design for Gus, with the performance characteristic of what we've come to expect from him.Also, this underscores the departure from the utilitarian performers of Gus past , and marking the new age, where a Gus Trim sword will look (almost) as good as it performs. There are some serious cosmetic improvements... primary bevels, permanent construction , upgraded polish, and a variety of other changes... like any one notice the leather's NOT black?
It's a sure bet to say that Gus, together with Christian and Sonny are forever changing the world of Western sword replicas; and changing it for the better.
This prototype , that will be a limited run production piece for VA, is a huge way-station on that route.
Gus Trim is stepping up to the plate with an incredible array of choices in every level of the market. From the VA performance, Signature and Regal lines... to the Chimera and Prestige lines ... the Legacy line and the Makers Mark series, and now these new protypes... Gus together with Sonny and Christian is truly creating an unheard of new-renaissance in the Euro sword market... lucky us.
Thanks for reading.