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.
Chas –
Weaponry Art Indeed! I just received my Gothic Longsword, and I am thrilled with the quality. The pictures online show it’s beauty of design, but the true majesty of this weapon doesn’t fully hit you, until you hold it and swing it. The balance is incredible at exactly 3 inches from the crossguard, making the nearly 3 1/2 pounds seem light. The blade handles swift and agile with one hand, and the handle easily fits two hands if you want that. The blade is springy, without being whippy, and holds its straightness through fast motion. Yet, when you bend it out of line by as much as 30 degrees (all that was easily possible, it’s tough steel), it springs back straight and true. Although the blade is straight and well-sharpened (ordered at extra cost), there are some hammer marks and slight, small ripples or dips in the surface, as well as some slight surface-only scratches…but that is to be expected and normal in a hand-forged, hammered blade. These are not made to be mirror perfect. If that’s what you want, get a prettier, but brittle-bladed stainless steel movie replica blade or chrome-coated piece of junk, not this battle-ready beauty! The other metal parts, the pommel and crossguard, all have similar slight defects, as does the metal on the scabbard, again, signs of being of traditional hand-made quality, and not a problem. In fact, it adds to the charm, since it appears to have been in a battle or two. The sword is solidly put together, pommel, handle and crossguard are all tight. The handle is very well made and leather is well-sewn on both sword and scabbard. The leather grip with raised areas gives you a sure and unslippable grip. The scabbard firmly snugs the blade, maybe a bit too much, although it is drawable. This will probably loosen some over time, but definitely, the sword will not be falling out when tipped upside down. I also ordered the Lord of Battles 6517BK set of two hanger straps, which are well-made, good quality leather, suitable for up to a 3 inch belt, so the sword will not drag on the ground when wearing it at my next Renaissance festival…safely peace-tied, of course. My next step is to go out and buy some gourds and a pumpkin for some fun cutting practice in my back yard, that will freak out my neighbors! Can hardly wait, but I am expecting to be impressed. Thank you for providing access to what I would call a true battle-ready, museum quality piece of weaponry art. This sword once sold on other sites at over $300, so it is a real bargain as well. I have had my eye on this for 15 years, and am now a proud owner. I will do another review of it’s cutting quality after I have tried it out.
Diego Kuri –
Good sword for the price, i´m not trying to be a sword snob here, i have to say visually from a distance it looks very nice, but the cost details appear once you pay close attention, the cuttings and holes in the quillions of the guard are not perfect, the blade is not 100% symmetric, i understand this is difficult, is well balanced (about 10 cm or 10 inches from the cross) but a bit ont the heavy side i guess if you sharpen it and grind it you can make a more agile sword, but also the tempering is not the best, i hit it without much force against a simmilar 5160 sword and this one nicked a bit more, but also for the price is a beauty and comes with a very nice scabbard, i can´t complain much, it wouldn´t be my first trainning/fighting sword but definitely would buy again.
Amnimic333 –
Actual work of art. It is such a beautiful sword, but it does have its down sides (Which is to be expected with its price tag). On mine, the guard was slightly off centered, but other than that the sword is perfect. Great balance and overall feel. A nice and agile longsword. would highly recommend.