Out of this batch I am aware of one broken sword. We added a flex test ourselves before packing them up and sending to dealers. Further we had them add several flex tests beyond the norm to each sword before it was packed up and sent to us.ĬAS's second batch which arrived a few months ago was much larger than the first, and initial testing of the blades looked good. They felt they were sure where the issue in heat treat was occurring and were to fix it immediately. We had some back and forth with the forge after receiving some of them back here for testing. We had, I believe, 4 reported breaks in that batch and they all happened almost immediately. Nobody had any issues so we let the rest go out and they sold out almost immediately. We sent out a handful of these for feedback and in general had positive reviews as a loaner/club feder (hence the name change to club sport feder). Sending samples to a number of groups in the US for several rounds of feedback and testing.Īt CAS we initially received a small number of production KA feders in the first shipment and they ended up a little lighter with a more flexible blade than the initial spec. We went through a long process in developing this Feder. But as the designer of the KA Feder I hate reading about this experience. I have no affiliation with Knightshop as it goes with the Kingston Arms Feder so I can't comment on that bit. So I write to my fellow HEMA-ist: You get what you pay for. I'm sitting here, out of 160 quid for shipping, and no feders. They only refunded the cost of the feder, and return shipping. I feel this is quite an irresponsible attitude. They also seem to insinuate that one can only claim the feders are faulty only if they broke during use. Knightshop as well, was quite adamant that the feders have no issue. I cannot in good conscience, allow my students to use them knowing that they are liable to break. But this was within an hour of first use. Now, I know that years of wear and tear, as well as deliberate hard use, would lead to feders snapping. I don't think this is the first time you guys have heard about them snapping. Overall, I would say that these feders are dangerous. We packed all of it and shipped it back to the Knightshop, who promptly placed it back on sale citing that this is an isolated incident and that the other feders have no fault in them. I'm glad that everyone was wearing mask that day, and no one was injured. Would have been bad if it was a sparring scenario and the user did not stop in time. The broken piece went flying off while the user stood in shock. It was during a routine parry-riposte drill that we do every class, and it's not like we took the feder for a crash test. Within the first hour class, the feder snapped. We loaned one of the feders out to someone who did not have one. It did still feel like it cuts well, and the point of balance is not too far back. Generally around the middle as the tip was too flexible to really do any hard binds. It was listed at about 1.38 kg, and we thought it would feel light but surprise, it had a good blade feel to it. I would go as far to say that if the integrity of the feder held up, the flex makes it a very safe trainer. These were to be new loaner feders for the club.Īs most other reviews have pointed out, the top 1/3 of the feder was floppy but we did not feel that this was an issue. We've recently ordered 4 from the Knightshop, and they arrived licketysplit from the UK. At the price of 133.5 quid, it seems like a really too good to be true entry level feder. I'm doing a review, more like a rant, on the Kingston Arms Club Sports Feder.
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