Review 2.0: DarkSword Armory Boromir and Templar Swords Revisited

Review by Jason Woodard, November 2007

After completing my review of the Dark Sword Armory “SQUIRE” sword I thought it to be prudent to take a closer look at that remarkable review that Paul completed with Dark Swords’ “Knight” sword. The concept of DSA’s Knight Sword - A test to destruction was intriguing.

I decided to re-review my Dark Sword Armory “Boromir” and “Templar” swords. My objective being a testing form that would place much more demand on these two swords to perform well in extreme and harsh conditions.

Additionally, I acquired a higher resolution camcorder. Real time visualization adds a higher degree of perception and lends a dynamic that can be better measured on an individual level during the physical testing.

Paul’s graphic review of the DSA “Knight” sword inspired me to push the DSA “Boromir and “Templar” swords closer to the limit. Granted each cut through milk jugs, plastic cola containers, branches and anything else that was available from my shop and in the woods. Actually I have used these swords quite a bit during the summer months and they remain sound with fittings firmly in place. Just a little normal clean up and care keeps them looking and performing like new.

DSA’s Swords perform and cut well with no degradation. I think that the craftsmen that build the DSA swords know their metallurgy well. Oil hardening and precise tempering is not an easy task especially when there is no tolerance for the blade to bow or draw when normalizing.

They do tend to run on the heavy side. An excellent choice for full contact stage sword fighting. Their presence on stage has got to be nothing less than awesome. Especially so when you hear and feel them clashing.

My initial reviews of the DSA “Templar” can be found here while the Boromir was featured in an old issue of the Sword Buyers Digest Online Magazine - while the testing this time consisted of cutting and slashing milk jugs, heavy 5 gallon water jugs, pumpkins, various types of wood, and a tree stump.

Both of these swords (DSA “Boromir” and “Templar”) are forged from SAE 1060 High Carbon steel. They both are oil hardened then tempered to a hardness of Rockwell C 53.

The DSA “Boromir” based from the LOTR`s sword" has a blade length of 32.0” and an overall length of 41.0”. The width of the blade is 1.9” at the base. The weight overall is 4.2 lbs. and it balances nicely 3.5” from the hilt. The DSA “Boromir” is reasonably priced at $225.00

The DSA “Templar” model 1340 is classified as a type Xa or X1. This sword made history in the 12th Century BC Medieval Age. It was a sword of particular significance during this time. It was a two handed weapon that established a clear pattern of influence with the Smiths of the day. The “Templar” and its numerous variations can be found throughout the entire European Continent.

The “Templar” and its regional variations are displayed at The Royal Armory of Turin, in The Louver in Paris, in the Imperial Treasury of Vienna as well as in the Royal Armory of Madrid and in the Hermitage in Petrograd.

Its name alone inspires the imagination.

The DSA “Templar” has a blade length of 36.0” and an overall length of 46.5”. The width of the blade is 2.0” at the base. The weight overall is just a little less than 4.5 lbs. and it balances nicely 5.0” from the hilt. The DSA “Templar” is very reasonably priced at $260.00

I performed the re-testing of the DSA “Templar” and the “Boromir” identically and on the same day. This to assure an objective comparison and valid results.

It should be noted that Darksword Armory swords are unsharpened out of the box, so both of these swords were taken to the local knife sharpener at the mall.

I put together a test stand to hold the test specimens level and at the appropriate height. I lined up some half gallon and one gallon jugs filled with water. I slashed through them horizontally then vertically. Both swords cut clean and left no burrs or spikes. If my swing was uneven, the cut was still clean and left a sharp, burr free edge. This remained to be consistent even when the strike was delivered in a slightly parabolic curved motion.

VIDEO: Templar Cutting Water Filled Jugs

Both the DSA “Boromir” and “Templar” cut cleanly; horizontally, on a curve and vertically. They cut cleanly where ever you place the blade, regardless of direction.

VIDEO: Boromir Cutting Jugs

I moved on to pumpkins of various sizes and wall thicknesses. Pumpkins, due to the change in density as you cut through them can be deceptively unpredictable in the way that they react to force. It takes a keen edge to cut cleanly and to not just simply crush through or stick to the sword. Both swords did an exceptional job and produced a clean well defined cut in every direction of force applied.

VIDEO: Templar Pumpkin Slaying

I then tested these swords using five gallon, high impact resistant and reinforced water bottles filled to the brim. I pierced them through horizontally using a forward thrusting technique. Both swords penetrated completely through.

This particular kind of plastic is extremely dense and offers a great deal of resistance piercing through and also on withdrawal.

I then proceed on to totally destroy both of these large dense bottles using every kind of motion and twist imaginable. The strikes were made with a good deal of force. If anything would cause a sword to bend or fittings to loosen this would have done it.

VIDEO: Boromir vs the Water Cooler While the sword obviously did not cut as well as what was intended, the shockwaves from each blow is a significant test of durability

Again, both the DSA “Boromir” and “Templar” performed flawlessly. The bottles were cut into pieces and all of the Edges of the cuts were clean and free of burrs.

I moved on to a seasoned Hickory stump for a target. Both swords penetrated deep into the stump using an overhand swing. I then pierced into the stump vertically and purposely bent the swords from side to side with a good deal of force. Both swords were forced 5 to 6 inches in both directions and held in that position to see if the blade would crack, break or retain any deflection. Both swords snapped back to their original configuration; straight and true with no evidence of any damage, abrasions or change in shape. All of the fittings remained tight as well.

VIDEO: Boromir vs the Hickory stump

I have used the DSA “Boromir” and “Templar” swords all through the summer. I have cut through branches; saw grass, heavy vines,milk jugs everything that you could imagine. I have pushed both swords hard, and applied much more stress to them than you normally should with a sword. Both have held up very well. These are both very tough swords!!

THE VERDICT: BOROMIR Historical Accuracy: N/A Fit and Finish: 4/5 Handling: 4/5 Structural Integrity: 5/5 Value for Money: 5/5 OVERALL: 4/5 (Excellent)

THE VERDICT: TEMPLAR Historical Accuracy: 4/5 Fit and Finish: 5/5 Handling: 4/5 Structural Integrity: 5/5 Value for Money: 5/5 OVERALL: 5/5 (BUY IT NOW!)

Bottom line is that Dark Sword Armory crafts nothing less than excellent swords. They offer very nice strong fully functional swords at a price that is affordable.

WHERE TO BUY

Darksword Armory swords are available at the best prices online right here at the SBG Sword Store with FREE SHIPPING in the USA and Canada.

Please also note that Darksword-Armory has planned to end crafting of the “Boromir’s”. There will be only around twenty or so available. So you should order yours soon!!