Balaur Arms Alexandria Review Featuring Kane Shen
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 чер 2023
- Today's review is done in collaboration with @FortuneFavoursTheBold! Together we take a look at the Balaur Arms Alexandria Type XVIIIc longsword. We discuss its typology, build quality, handling characteristics, and overall value. Can this $488 sword compete with swords that cost almost three times as much? We'll answer that and many other questions in this video!
**Disclaimer**
We're not experts in weapons, history, or anything really. We don't study HEMA or any other form of material arts that would tell us how to use the weapons we talk about. We are simply enthusiasts and consumers. We'll give you our honest opinions so that you can make informed buying decisions.
Specs
Overall Length - 44 7/8"
Blade Length - 34 1/2"
Weight - 3 lbs 8 oz
Width - 73.5 mm
Distal Taper- 6.8 mm - 2 mm
Pommel - Peened
P.O.B. - 3 3/4"
Grip Length - 7 3/8"
Blade - GB 60Si2MnA High Carbon Manganese Spring Steel
Where to buy
www.kultofathena.com/product/...
Kane's channel
/ @fortunefavoursthebold
It's been an absolutely pleasure and a blast collaboration with you guys. I have been released from jury duty, 3 weeks toiling on this murder trial, and but the end every one of us was banging our head on the wall. Lots have been happening in life and I haven't got to fully editing my version. I try to release it before the end of July. I deliberately tried to refrain from watching yours before releasing mine, but I just couldn't resist. =p
Excellent review, guys. It's so tightly structured. Being an editor of videos myself, I can hardly fathom how you managed to pack so much information from all three of us into a 23-min video. The greatest job! It's almost as much as a wonder how LK Chen manages to pack so much cutting power and quality into such lightweight swords! I will release a more complete version of our conversation likely exceeding the one-hour mark. It is worth it.
Thank you sir! I can't wait to see your video, I know it'll be worth the wait!
Hello guys. Fantastic review! Great to see Kane here!
Cool collaboration! Kane is a good dude,very knowledgeable as well.
i love 18c swords
ohhh man i really want those Balaur Arms swords...sadly the import fees and taxes to Germany will be too high...😢
Another great review! Love the collab videos! I own this sword and love it, however i do have some critiques on it that annoy me with the sword. The metal lockette (throat, collar, whatever you wanna call it) has an issue that you mentioned about how it folds over and could hit the edge. Luckily im very careful when drawing it to prevent bluntening my sword. The scabbard fitment for mine is terrible. It has zero retention, and rattels around in it. Also the leater is very wrinkly like alientude's example. However you're getting a pretty scabbard included in the price range so i cant complain too much. The second thing i dislike about the sword is thwt the leather or faux leather grip wore very quickly with just handling the sword! I feel like the leather needs to be higher quality and shouldn't wear so much, it makes me feel as though the grip will fall apart (it hasn't so far but a valid concern. Negatives out of the way, this sword handles and cuts like a dream! It came very sharp, an acute point, the peen is flawless, the balance is excellent, and the finish is incredible! It feels very solid, however occasionally while swinging this and the German longsword from Baular arms/LK Chen i noticed from time to time an odd sound that sounds like something bis shifting around, yetit still feels solid and doesn't make the noise when i try to finde where it makes the noise. For the price, its excellent, even if i paid more I'd still be happy! I do have a dark sword Alexandria, and i would say that i love this sword more. The dark sword handles well, cuts well, and looks good, the scabbard fitment is better, the grip leather wrap is better (in durability), and is also sharp. However it is almost a different profile. Yet i enjoy the Baular arms longsword far and away more
I'm glad you're happy with the sword despite its flaws. I agree the grip could definitely be better. I'll probably end up getting it redone at some point. It isn't perfect but I think it is a great value for the price. Also I appreciate the comparison to the DSA Alexandria. DSA does their grips very well, so I'm not surprised it's better. The DSA version is one we'd like to get our hands on at some point. That along with the Ronin version would make for a fun comparison. Thanks for watching and the great comment!
I like that representation of the type XVIIIc war sword, even more so than the Albion Principe and that one is almost worth three times as much.
Great review guys! Sorry I wasn't able to collaborate on this one - we'll do it for another sword sometime in the future!
Thank you sir! And no worries, we look forward to collaborating with you in the future!
I really love this sword really want one some day
It's a great one to have for sure, and a really good value for the money.
Thanks for watching!
You guys rock! So glad every time I see one of your reviews attached to a KoA sword, because I know you are going to be thorough and hit the points I would care about.
Thanks for the kind words, and for watching!
It's awesome to hear that you find these videos useful. It definitely motivates us to keep making more of them!
I bought the Ronin Katanin version, and will most likely buy this one when it becomes available on Kult of Athena. The Ronin may not handle as well, but the blade profile and inscription really make it look like the original. I feel like I own a museum replica with the Ronin. The profile of the LK Chen has an almost Italian long sword taper towards the tip, which isn't so bad, considering the Alexandrias are also thought to be of Italian origin, and the hollow ground blade and pommel are beautifully done.
I agree, I like the look of the Ronin version a lot. The Aramaic inscription really works for me. Like you, I love the idea of essentially having a replica of a museum piece. So much so that I might end up buying that one eventually. A comparison video would definitely be fun.
Thanks for watching!
@@UnsheathedSwordReviews Don't wait too long to pick one up. It says the one with the inscription is limited edition on their website. Really enjoy all your reviews!👍
It looks like it’s no longer up on KoA. Does anyone know if they plan on bringing it back?
Not sure when it'll come back. It's not uncommon for KOA to remove a sword and then bring it back when they get another run. So I don't believe it's discontinued, it's pretty popular so I imagine it sold well.
Thanks for watching!
Another great review, loved the collaboration with kane Shen but I did have a problem with your off hand comment about dark swords Alexandria and saying it handles like a crowbar (it doesn’t and I know because I own one)if you have used it and don’t like it faire enough but shitting on all of a company’s products because you had one bad experience isn’t fair especially if you want to be taken seriously as a review channel, I would point you in the direction of Matthew Jensen, mathathies or Matt Easton scholagladiatoria for there reviews of this sword which are fair and unbiased in my opinion.
First off, thanks for watching. We appreciate your sharing your thoughts.
When we said that a sword handled like a cro bar we were actually referring to the Black Death Gothic Longsword and the Danish sword by Darksword. Both of which we own, and both of which are quite unwieldy when compared to other better designed and lower priced offerings from other manufacturers.
When paired with Darksword's indifferent quality control and customer service, the lackluster performance of the swords we do own makes us feel safe in our recommendation that folks spend their money elsewhere.
Thanks again for your comments.
Good thing I don’t buy LK Chen swords. They’re famous for their swords falling apart ☝️
Interesting. What swords of theirs have you experienced that on? Or where have you read about that happening?
I. (Jon), have the White Arc jian. Silver Swallow Miao Dao. Nieu Wei Dao, Yan Ling Dao, and the 16th century Saxony Rapier from them and they've all stayed right and tight despite fairly frequent use.
I'd be interested to hear of your experiences. Thanks for watching.