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.
CLBeedle –
Great cutter, and even chops deep into wood. The only thing I don’t like about this is that the design (just about every yataghan ever made in hundreds of years of use) doesn’t have a way to keep the hand from sliding forward if you stab and hit something hard. It’s a slasher/cutter/chopper and not a stabbing blade, but in a zombie invasion you just might have to stab the head!
Jordan (verified owner) –
Bang for buck, this thing is just awesome. The length to weight is fantastic. The balance is actually too good. I intend to remove the scales and drill some holes in the tang to lighten it even further and shift the balance down the blade more. It is a MEATY blade that gives you the impression you could beat it on rocks, take it to a grinder to resharpen and remove chips, and then go back out and beat it on rocks more (didn’t do it and NOT recommended). I guess I’m saying, I’m not afraid to actually get real use out of it and I’m not afraid of damaging it. It’s a very tough item.
Now, there are a lot of minor drawbacks that are acceptable sacrifices for this price point:
The handle isn’t very comfortable. I would recommend shaping it yourself after you get it. It’s just a bit too rectangular still even with the bevels. It wouldn’t take much to get it comfortable (or just replace them with something more interesting to add style to it; super easy with the bolts).
The scabbard clasp designed to hold it in place (those indentions in the scabbard that line up with those in the handle) hasn’t done well for me; it barely friction holds and will slide out. I have retrofitted a sort of strap to hold it in place once it’s in the scabbard.
The balance is so ‘good’ it’s almost a negative. You feel almost no weight in the blade; it feels like all the weight is just sitting right on top of your hand. It’s amazing, but it also leaves you feeling like you have zero cutting power and strips the edge of momentum in a swing. I also have no idea what I’m doing though, so there’s that. But if you get good technique, it cuts well… IF….
Now here is the big one, or it may be depending on your situation and circumstances. Even with the sharpening service, this blade was a dull turd. You will need to do, or have someone else, excessively grind to get a real sharp blade. So much so, it will slightly change the shape of the blade. Here’s why- due to the shape and curve and how thick this blade is, even with the sharpening service, towards the tip (that steeper curve right before the tip) had a spot of more than 1/16″ wide and about 1″ long of FLAT STEEL where there should have been edge (like, the bar they made it out of, that part wasn’t even ground to an edge. Still bar). I had my brother just grind the crap out of it (I got this thing to beat it) and it now has a nice edge at a slight sacrifice to the elegant shape.
I did pay for the sharpening service and it was not at all what I would call close to sharp, except for several inches along the straightest part of the blade. I don’t know if this is the best they can do due to the blade shape, or if their sharpener just dorked this one up and it slipped past quality. I was fairly disappointed with that, to the point I was considering 3 stars with everything said and done, but I’ve gotten very used to the fact no one makes anything really “good” unless you spend rich people money and you have to modify anything you buy to make it proper. Even as a super dull short sword, as an almost sharp super tough metal bar that just won’t die, it’s a solid purchase. Recommended, but I would question them on the sharpening if you wanted it sharp, or just save the money and do the sharpening (grinding; you won’t be fixing this with a stone) yourself.
Also a shout out to KoA’s great customer service. They have been responsive and personable and so far I’m happy to give them business and recommendations.
Jordan (verified owner) –
Not sure if I can leave an additional review and I can’t edit my review… but I bought this a long time ago and I can’t find evidence I paid for the sharpening service. That being the case, I could be totally wrong about that part. Even if so, what you get without sharpening, expect to be dull on some spots and blunt in others. So with that aside, it’s a very solid 4 stars to me, 4.5, instead of barely 4 or 3.8. I hope it’s helpful. If you’re willing to put a bit of love in, you won’t regret.
M.A. (verified owner) –
This is a sword you reach for when you need it. It is effective and without frills. The steel blade is strong and appropriately thick on the back unsharpened edge. If society collapses this is my blade.