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.
Brandin G. –
Excellent Sword The sword is in immaculate condition, it is incredibly light weight, well balanced and feels great in the hand. It is well sharpened, and the scabbard and frog are well made of a sturdy leather.
Jesse –
Elegantly tough Excellent little sabre, very close copy, based on my research, to the originals. In fact, take it back to the 19th Century and it would probably pass for one-except for the Windlass maker’s mark. Handles very well, very fast and maneuverable, one can feel the sword pivoting around its point of balance, which at 4 1/4 inches is gives the sword strong blade presence without feeling blade heavy. And the construction, well, it’s very solid, will certainly stand up to a smash up melee’. The only downside are a few finishing issues. There are small pits in the brass in a couple spots and the where the knuckle-bow and the pommel cap meet is very slightly misaligned. This doesn’t effect the strength of the construction in anyway and it’s only noticeable if you know to look for it and even then from certain angles you’d have to look twice (and the cutlass is still a handsome piece). In all, a great sword, elegant and brutal all at once. By the way, in addition to being historically on the mark it also makes a great Steampunk looking sword for those Air Privateers out there in your zeppelins and Sopwith Camels.
Cecil B. –
Admirable sword, and service. Surprizingly elegant looking for a cutlass, and quite nimble in the hand is this replica of the U.S. Navy M1860 cutlass. My life has never depended on a sword and I should not pretend to experience I don’t have, but I feel pretty sure that this is a serviceable sword my several generations of U.S. Navy relatives would have been happy to have to hand. I did first receive a blade with serious flaw, but when I complained Kult of Athena courteously and promptly replaced it with no additional expense to me. I greatly appreciate that. Mistakes happen in every company—it is how they deal with them that counts. The sharpening service was also good. Thanks to Ryan and company!
Michael McKenzie –
Fabulous cutlass I bought this a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. The blade geometry and center of balance work well for my build and style. I love the clean lines and simple elegance. It is easy to control on the thrust and quick to parry. For a Windlass piece it is surprisingly good.
I opted for CoA’s sharpening service and was not disappointed. While not as sharp as I prefer they were able to grind the Windlass monstrously thick blunt edge to useable.
Land W. –
Ouch! I purchased a blunt, munitions version of this product for practice and sparring. I have one very important piece of advice for users of this blade:
WEAR. GLOVES.
Preferably thick leather ones. That ornamental texture wrapping around the handle? Yeah, that texture gets really grating on the palm after a while. After just a few swings the hand shock kicks in, and the metal wire wrapping will leave you with blisters.
That being said, it handles well for a budget sword. Reasonable center of mass and sufficient point control, noted.
I expect it, in the hands of a skilled user, to perform well enough against water bottles or beach mats or whatever we’re cutting on nowadays. Avoid wood, especially dead wood, as always and never use bare handed.
CT (verified owner) –
This is the best handling reproduction cutlass on the market, period. This is also the only battle ready version of the current US Navy CPO Ceremonial Cutlass. Superb point control, very quick in the hand, really comes alive with gloves. Wide fuller runs almost the entire length, and KOA even sharpened the false edge. Scabbard is accurate but terrible, mine was bent from being folded in half.
Stembacca (verified owner) –
I can’t give this it’s full five stars as the scabbard arrived damaged with a dent in it but my roommate was very happy with his gift. It looks very high quality and feels like I imagine an authentic cutlass would, he knows more than I do about this kind of thing and was very ecstatic when he opened it.
(apologies for the duplicate review, please reject the other one where I said full four stars)