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.
S. T. –
Fine, functional, workaday saber. I own this, as well as the 1860 Light Cavalry Saber, also by Windlass, and I`ll compare and contrast both here.
The grip of this 1840 model is somewhat “beefier” than the 1860, and the brass wires twisted round the grip are not proud of the grip; the groove they rest in is not so wide, and the land is well rounded and not sharply gabled, as is the case with the grip of the 1860. Measured along the `backstrap` from underside of guard plate to pommel side of the rounded lip above the pommel proper, the grip is 5 13/64″, ditto the 1860. Measured inside the knucklebow, the grip is 4 5/16″, again ditto the 1860.
The wide and narrow fullers are 24 1/2″ and 15 5/16″ in length respectively, and 24″ and 17 3/4″ on 1860. At the forte, my example is 8.95 mm in thickness and 3.2 mm at 3″ from point; 4.35 mm and 3.45 mm the 1860. Width at forte: 31.5 mm 1840 and 29.5 mm the 1860. I lined the scabbard with two very thin strips of balsa wood traced to shape slightly wider around than the blade, to prevent rattle, as well as improve blade retention and reduce scratches and dings to the blade. Sharpened this myself, half the length from point. In the words of a more experienced and knowledgeable collector, “These are very real, functional cavalry weapons”.
Elias Katsaros (verified owner) –
I just received this monster saber today, but it has a very good balance, you don’t feel the weight of the blade . I am a fencer, and i don’t feel uncomfortable to fence with this saber if I have to . Very good quality!!
Elias Katsaros