Overview
Our sharpening service will provide a good serviceable edge on the blade. The result is typically “very sharp” with a small secondary bevel and a bit of an “apple seed” profile. The resulting edge is somewhat dependent on the particular blade. Some blades will take and hold sharper edges than others and the thickness of the blade will determine how wide the bevel will need to be. We adjust the angle of the edge to suit the specific blade and attempt to get as close to a bevel-less edge as possible without marring the surface of the blade.
The Sharpening Process
The sharpening service is done with a belt sander. The process involves many passes with sanding belts of various grits. The blades are rested between passes to prevent them from becoming hot and damaging their temper. By default we will sharpen as much of the blade as possible including any false edges if appropriate. If you have a different preference, feel free to make that request in the special instructions at check out. We can sharpen only the last half or third of an edge, for example. Our sword sharpening expert has personally sharpened several thousand swords at this point, so will provide you with a professional service.
What the Service is Not
The resulting edge will be “sword sharp” not razor sharp. Our goal is to provide you with a usable edge for cutting practice that will hold up to some use and not require constant re-sharpening. In other words, we intend to provide you with a serviceable weapon, not a personal grooming implement. The service will not provide a completely bevel-less edge. To create that type of edge will necessarily scratch up the blade surface and we lack the machinery and time to provide a full re-polishing of a blade’s surface. A service of that nature would be significantly more expensive as a great deal more time would be required. We do not offer this type of service at this time.
Disclaimer
We make no guarantee that the resulting edge will meet with your expectations. Every blade is different and some will take and hold a sharper edge than others, due to the blade material, heat treatment or geometry. Some customers can also have incorrect assumptions about sword sharpness and improper expectations as a result. All we can say for sure is that the resulting edge will be sharper than the default edge, in most cases, significantly so. We can not provide any refunds for the service once it has been completed, so consider it to be provided “as is”. That being said, if you are unhappy with the product for any reason, we do still allow you to return the item for a full refund, including the sharpening costs under our normal return policy. This does not apply to special sharpening requests, for example if we sharpen something specially for you that does not normally list that option on our site. The vast majority of our customers are happy with the results of the service, so as long as you keep the above mentioned in mind, we are confident you will be pleased with the results as well.
Keith Dalla Valle (verified owner) –
This is without exception the closest to an original military piece you can possibly get. Right down to the ricasso and hilt stamping. All of the inherent strengths, like the robustness and solidity of its construction, and all of the inherent weaknesses, like the lead-weight balance and awkward meat-cleaver feel of the original coupe choux are demonstrated perfectly in this marvelous reproduction. Well known to be modelled after the Roman Gladius Hispaniensis, the Roman ancestor to this weapon is by far the better designed and deadlier of the two. That being said, it was a widely duplicated weapon over a good stretch of time, and many other nations including the U.S.A manufactured and issued one version or another of this practical and sturdy little sword. A must for military buffs and collectors of the post Napoleonic time period, that last hurrah of the combat sword. The steel of this blade will take a wonderful, cabbage-chopping edge. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Jason Wise (verified owner) –
This is a beautiful, functional reproduction of the famous cabbage chopper Confederate Cavalry Sword, right down to the Talabot FS 1832 maker’s mark and other stampings on the blade. The sword is thicker through the cross section than the original Ames made variants of these, but that doesn’t bother me one bit. I got KOA to sharpen the blade for me and have been having a ton of fun swinging, lopping, chopping, and hacking away with this mighty brute of a short sword. Universal really outdid themselves with this one and KOA absolutely nailed the grind. I’d gladly buy this one over again