A&A Edward III

[Sir Edward]

I've had my eye on this one for a while now:

http://www.armor.com/sword157.html

I don't usually go for swords that are that "flashy", but it's a historical recreation, and seems tastefully decorated.

CAS-Hanwei makes one as well, that's a lot cheaper (http://casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=SH2033), but I suspect that the A&A one is really the one to get.

Unfortunately I haven't had an opportunity to handle these yet. And ironically, I've seen a couple of them go up for sale on myArmoury, with the sellers having great difficulty finding buyers for them (if they've sold at all). But all of this has been happening while I've had my Baron on order, as well as having other swords come my way.

The myArmoury review seems favorable: http://www.myarmoury.com/review_aa_edwardiii.html ... and of course, we're talking A&A here, so how can you go wrong?   One thing that confuses me though in the review is that it makes a point of the fact that A&A uses real gold, and then says it will tarnish. Gold is inert and should never tarnish. Brass will discolor very quickly though. Was this a mistake in the review? Or is it not really gold plated?

Have any of you looked at it up close or handled it? Opinions?

[Sir Edward]

One thing that confuses me though in the review is that it makes a point of the fact that A&A uses real gold, and then says it will tarnish. Gold is inert and should never tarnish. Brass will discolor very quickly though. Was this a mistake in the review? Or is it not really gold plated?

I may have found an answer: http://corrosion-doctors.org/MatSelect/corrgold.htm

Apparently gold can tarnish, under specific conditions, one of which is a porous surface due to lost-wax investment casting which can trap acids and cleansers and the like. Interesting. Learned something new...

[Das Bill]

I've never seen one in person, though I've been told the A&A and Hanwei versions are night and day. For myself, personally, I'd want the A&A because it is based on hands on research of the original, whereas the Hanwei is based on photos. Since its such an iconographic sword, I'd want it as close to the original as possible.