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.
John Dumbelton –
Fantasy Flail When I received the package the weight gave me concern . Opened the box and my fears were confirmed . The spiked ball looks and is formidable way to heavy to ever be effectively used (five pounds) . The chain is four feet long , an absurd length . The handle way too short . With the very sharp spikes of the ball this thing is ” battle ready “to injure anyone foolish enough to try to use it . Love KOA products but even the great Harold lost at Hastings !
Mike –
Bad-a$$ery 101 I got this item very quickly. It took only a day for delivery. I agree with the first review that you would not purchase this piece with the goal of practicality in mind. It is probably one of the least practical weapons you could own, if actual combative use was the goal. I also wouldn’t walk around in sandals while holding this thing. Dropping a 5 pound spike on your foot wouldn’t end well. But this is the type of item you get when your collection grows and you want something new and unique instead of the same-old period piece. That was my goal and it fits the bill. It will make an outstanding wall hanger and the long chain is a bonus as it can be creatively put to use in the display.
As far as the piece itself, it is a beast. The chain is indeed a bit too long for a casual swing. But there is no issue if you want to shorten it up. Just get a high-strength small diameter rock climbing carabiner from Dick’s. It threads through the links nicely and clips the chain length desired into the large eye on top of the shaft. You can slack up on the chain and make it any length you want, and do this on-the-fly. With the length shortened to 4-5 inches I found it not to be too unwieldy in hand. But it’s still a large mass hanging from the end of a piece of wood so you need to be pretty careful with how you handle this item.
No complaints. Very nice and unique piece to add to the collection.
As far as historical accuracy, that’s really moot. When most people think of medieval weapons, a couple of things usually come to mind–swords and intimidating-looking weapons with spikes, chains, and flanges. The latter is in all likelihood more Hollywood than reality as historians are not sure of the extent that spiked flails were actually used by combatants in the field(or if they were actually used at all). So if you want to know what an authentic spiked flail looks like, you probably have to rely on your imagination or a Hollywood fantasy film. There are only a few manuscripts and historical accounts to use as a source of info and most of the examples in museums have turned out to be forgeries. Many historians believe that on the battlefield, this type of weapon was an extremely specialized tool, but nobody is absolutely sure of the extent to which it was used and under what circumstances. Would I want to use this against armed opponents on horseback or foot as my primary weapon? No. It’s just too unwieldy. It could easily get behind a shield defense when swung but you better hit the target the first time as there won’t be much time to reload. It would probably be best suited as a one-use weapon in a coordinated attack against infantry. Swing it behind the line of advancing shields then grab your axe or sword. Nobody else will have the time or practical ability to pick it up and use it effectively once the melee starts. So, I could very well see this specific weapon having a practical but very limited use in some role on a medieval battlefield. Just make sure to bring another weapon.
Mark M. –
Just plain SCARY…. I agree with every review I have ever seen on this particular(and peculiar)piece. This thing is terrifying just to look at, let alone swing it. It’s dangerous, both to the wielder and target. I advise to use this as decoration only. It’s most certainly ‘battle ready’….I swung it once….I repeat ….once ….at a pile of firewood. The spikes went into a chunk of stovewood so deeply I had to use a prybar to free it. The effects on a living target would be catastrophic, just by weight alone…never mind the spikes. Would I suggest getting one for the wall of your man-cave? HELL YEAH!!! Would I suggest carrying it to Ren-Fest? HELL NO!!!! Not unless you just WANT to get thrown out. Overall, it’s a very well made piece…..Just BE CAREFULL!!!!………..McM
Aaron –
Authentic flail I just got this in a few days ago, and it looks and feels like the real deal, and I’ll explain. My wife and I was in a argument over the dishes and I made an off hand comment. She turned her attention to the flail, and then back to me. That look on her face reminded me of that scene in Braveheart where Lord Phillip after betraying William Wallace, was sleeping. Then William bust into his house before bashing his head in with that ball and chain. That look right before he did that reminded me of the look my wife gave me. So I’ve decided that it would be effective enough to hide instead of putting it up for display at least for a couple of weeks.