Gen2 New Version Chaos Fantasy Sword

[Firehand10k]

Current Generation 2 Chaos Fantasy Sword (Revised Sword not just the review) reviewed by Firehand10k
$219.00 from Kult of Athena

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4873.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4970.jpg
I had to do it! Since I had the old one and had heard so much about how Gen2 upgraded their tempering process, a while ago, and redesigned several of their swords to improve the balance and functionality I had to see for myself. It came wrapped in plastic and thickly coated in packing grease. I got the new scabbard out and found it a great improvement over the plain leather old one. I will confess that at first sight of the blade I thought, “Man this seems frail compared to the old one.” I was wrong but more to come on that later. Even while just cleaning off the grease it felt like it was going to be a much more maneuverable blade, at nearly a pound lighter than the old design. Once I could see it all I was very impressed with the overall new look, although I still thought it looked too light.
Kult of Athena offers free shipping on this and was super fast at getting it to me. It arrived Monday after being ordered just Friday afternoon and shipped the same day (I’m sure it would have arrived sooner if UPS delivered on weekends).

STATISTICS:
Blade Length: 33 7/8”
Blade Width: 1 3/4” near guard 1 1/8” at tip
Blade Thickness: 5/16” at guard 1/8” at tip = 3/16” distal taper.
Hilt Length: 8 1/8"
Overall: 45 1/2"
Guard Height: 7/8" at center
Guard Width: 8 3/16”
POB (point of balance): 4 3/4” from base of guard
COP (center of percussion): 22" from the guard
Weight: 3 lbs. 13 oz.

FIT and FINISH:
Blade- The blade is polished to nearly a mirror finish (much shinier than the old version). The tool marks from the shaping are visible only near the middle of the blade.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4975.jpg
The blade is thinner and lighter than I expected after handling the original. A small curve has been added above the fantasy cutouts near the hand guard to make a more graceful look and an overall narrower blade.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/CopyofIMG_4974.jpg
The fuller has also been narrowed and keeps an aesthetic balance to the resized blade. While less of a beast than its predecessor this version is just as solidly assembled. The improved finish has made it nearly (but not quite) impossible to see where the hand-guard and pommel claws are pinned into place.

Handle- The handle of this sword is much smaller around than the older one (4” diameter Vs. 5”).
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/CopyofIMG_4973.jpg
The handle is completely circular under the wrap so when the wrap was applied in a twist it actually makes the handle thicker than it is wide (opposite a usual oval handle). The wrap is leather applied very tight with even twists. The red under-wrap looks like a nylon cloth and has a bit of metallic sparkle to it.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4972.jpg
The handle is still very solid and secure held on by a peened on pommel.

Hand Guard and Pommel- The hand guard and pommel are both polished steel. They each consist of more than one piece with the pieces pinned and peened together.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/CopyofIMG_4971.jpg
The claws are ¼” thick. The polish has been improved so that the pins holding the claw pieces in place are barely visible.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/CopyofIMG_4973.jpg
The peened end of the tang is more prominent than the older version making it look as if the whole attachment has actually been upgraded.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4978.jpg
The whole assembly is still very tight after putting it through much more demanding tests than any other sword I have too date.

Sheath- A vast improvement over the plain leather sheath of the previous version. It is wood wrapped in thin leather with steel end-cap and throat. It is so tight that when inserted the cutouts on the blade dug out some of the wood. I also found, when I went to cut up some water bottles, that the dye on the outside is more like ink and runs badly when wet (at the time of writing this I have washed my hands 3 times already and still have black stains one them).
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4794.jpg
Some of the dye actually thinned off leaving dark brown spots visible.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/IMG_4979.jpg

TESTING:
Cutting- With the improved polish this edition also came with an improved edge. It was very ready to cut straight out of the box. I cut several thicknesses of plastic bottles, some cardboard boxes, and a pool noodle, then proceeded to hack up a pine 1x6. This is the first sword with which I have successfully cut the thick PowerAid bottles. I thought the first might be luck but I succeeded with two more after that. This version is much faster and more maneuverable than the older one. The blade sustained only superficial scuffing and the entire sword remained solid and straight even after more (half of a 30 gallon trash bag worth of bottles in one session) and harder (intentionally attacking the pine board) cutting than I have used any sword for before (See Video).
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/th_Chaos2.jpg (http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Chaos%202/?action=view&current=Chaos2.flv)

CONCLUSION:
Sharper, smaller and faster but just as durable. This sword finally brings a fantasy weapon to life in an affordable and entirely useable form. Its early design was very good for giving fantasy fans a passable beater. The improved weight and balance make the Gen2 Chaos a real sword that fantasy fans can afford and train with instead of settling for unusable decorations and trying to tell ourselves we won’t swing them around. In just 2 days this sword has risen from something I looked at in skepticism to the pinnacle of my collection. An elegant yet capable weapon for the more discerning barbarian.

RATING:
Historical Accuracy: N/A
Fit and Finish: 4.5/5 Knocked of a bit for the inky scabbard.
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5

OVERALL: 5/5

[bobO]

Firehand,Bravo!you have this sword review format down pat.If I was interested in this kind of sword,this review would have been an immense help.Your cutting has improved to,I see.You only hit wood when you meant to,liked the way you cut the tops of the jugs to.

[Jason Moore]

Excellent review! I never realized those swords were sharp like that. I am more interested in Gen2 now....

The outfit was very....kinky....I mean yours of course...=P

[rick]

use a paper towel and shoe polish or leather sealer it seems they skip that step when makeing the sheath

[Firehand10k]

Yeah it was an easy thing to fix. I just didn't realize it would be like that. Thats why I like to do all of my reviews as the sword arrives, "out of the box", so anyone who selects something on my recomendation knows what to expect as best I can tell them.

[tsafa]

Excellent review. I love how your wifes dress matches the sword handle.

How is the blade stiffness on this sword? I prefer tapered swords with a stiff stabbing point, but I expect this is a dedicated cutter with a big flex in the blade.

Jason, Gen 2 swords come pretty darn sharp! I learned that with the first one I bought when I put a deep cut in my finger trying to get the wrapping off. I barely touched the blade.

Please send me a PM on how you embedded video. I have not figured that out yet on this forum.

[Firehand10k]

This sword is quite rigid really for its length. It has the right flex when it should but when held flat to the ground it doesn't dip and when held edge to the ground and the pommel is slapped it flexes only about 3/4 inch to each side. I'm not much of a thruster but perhaps I should give it a try. I expect from those I have seen that this sword would do well for it.

[corundum]

Well I just got my Chaos sword and well I thought it was suposed to be realy sharp but it doesn't seem all that shrap at all to me? I even had trouble cutting a single water bottle with it but maybe its just me I'm used to a katana and well maybe it just doesn't seem very sharp to me because I'm comparing it to my Shura katana by Cheness cutlery? But I guess its nothing a good touch up can't take care of. Anyway I'd like to know if it is just beacuse I'm comparing the sharpness to my katanas that I don't find it very sharp thanks and may your sword land true to its target:hahaskull:

[Firehand10k]

I find sharpness to be relative. Each person I've met seen to have a different idea of it. Gen2's come sharp but, as with anything there are bound to be degrees of variance. I was out cutting with mine yesterday and it worked great on several plastic bottles. I have never done any sharpening to this one even after it hit the tree stump.
http://sbgswordforum.proboards70.com...1749903&page=1

It may really not be sharp enough or Your cutting technique may have been the problem. If you have only cut with a katana until now you will find that they cut very differently from a straight blade. I prefer the look of the fantasy broadswords better but since there are so many low priced katanas out there I did my first cutting with one of them. That led to having to relearn cutting when I did get some straight blades. My first attempts, at even bottles, failed miserably but since then I have even been able to cut pool noodles with my Chaos (very soft targets but will more easily flop over than cut with a dull blade)

All I can recommend is sharpen it to your liking and practice.

[corundum]

Thanks dude and ya it proboly is my technique lol The katanas do cut alot differntly and so I've noticed and they are like a razor but hey practice makes perfect I think I'll try raising my tagets up a little too because it seems in your videos that yours are a little higher than mine so I'll try that out and do more cutting before I decide to touch it up. Thanks again.