[quote=""polyphemus""]The fact that the Damascus pattern covers the entire blade rather than just the fuller like the prop bothers me, too. However, I much prefer the high carbon steel blade despite it not being screen accurate. You noted you might try to add the pattern down the fuller.
In a similar mindset, I wonder if one could deeply polish the outer edges to remove the pattern?!? Anyone out there with specific enough knowledge of Damascus steel and its properties to answer whether or not that is even possible?!?[/quote]
Hi Folks,
Well, after receiving my new Valyrian Steel Damascus Longclaw, I can state with absolute authority that one can polish the outer edges of such a sword to more closely replicate the look of the sword from the show. In fact, in so doing, the resultant sword will look (and be) much better than the prop from the show.
It seems that HBO noticed this issue on the VS prototype for the Damascus Longclaw and had them address it. As a result, the outer edges gleam (while still bearing the patterning) while the fuller is darker and unpolished thereby highlighting the Damascus pattern therein. I was so impressed I could hardly contain my glee last night after opening it up and cleaning off the shipping oils to get a good look at it. At that point, my cats were looking at me like I was totally nuts as all I could do was wander around my condo with it chanting "Sword, sword, sword!" as did the brothers of the Night's Watch when imploring Jon for a look at his gift from the Lord Commander!
When I finally managed to calm down a bit and set that beauty aside, I opened my new Damascus Ice. Wow, just WOW! The blade on that thing is an absolute beauty to behold and captures perfectly the descriptive passages from the books: "The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke," or this one: "Valyrian steel, marked with the ripples of a thousand foldings, so sharp I feared to touch it." Needless to say, I am bowled over completely. I no longer have any doubt about my new direction in regard to prop collection. I have shelved any and all plans for additional Hobbit items and will be concentrating exclusively on building/completing my Valyrian Steel collection! I am so thoroughly impressed, in fact, that I had to call Chris at Valyrian just to gush about how happy I was with these swords. They now stand as my favorite replicas.
In a collection that includes all of the swords from the UC LOTR line as well as many, many others, that is high praise indeed!
I promise, when I can get a decent camera and the right lighting, I will be posting pics of these here and in the latest acquisition thread. If any of you are interested in either of these swords in the limited (500 each) Damascus editions, I would highly encourage you to go for it while they are still available. Given how sweet they are, I don't think they will last long.