Anyone who has checked the ole Pamphlets blog over the last few months (okay it's been more like nine or ten months...) knows that I've been busy with life and haven't been on line or blogging much. Well while I was otherwise occupied, last September an icon quietly disappeared. Sadly, I didn't even notice until today.
As Ninme can attest, one of my hobbies is sword collecting, old Navy swords in particular. When I did my Change of Command last summer, I debated on if I should wear an old antique sword from my collection(we're not talking the Smithsonian here, it's only about a dozen or so), wear my personal sword that I got back when I was a Lieutenant (JG), or buy a new one.
I ended up getting a new one.
I shopped around and decided on a Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. (WKC) sword. German made, nice mid-range priced sword (remember I have a house full of kids, can't justify spending huge bucks on such things...). It is a very nice sword and much nicer than my previous sword that I've had since the 1980's. In my shopping around I looked at several sword companies and dealers. One of the companies was Wilkinson Sword of London.
Wilkinson Sword has been making swords since 1805 and they were second to none in quality. They made them the old fashioned way with quality infused in every step of production. Such quality and craftsmanship comes with a pretty hefty price tag. The price they quoted me last march for a complete sword outfit was $1505.00. That's about three times what I paid for the WKC sword, and trust me the WKC is a very nice and very well made sword. I told myself at the time that I would buy the Wilkinson for retirement a few years from now...if I could convince myself to spend the money...
Alas, now that is not going to be possible and no amount of money will buy a new Wilkinson Sword. Earlier I mentioned that I hadn't been on line and paying much attention to blogging and other hobbies (i.e. sword collecting) over the past few months and while I was asleep at the on line wheel, in September Wilkinson Sword announced that after 200 years they were dropping sword production from the company.
Crap.
Oh well, maybe it's just God's way of telling me that I shouldn't have even been contemplating spending 1500 dollars on a sword...
Still, it's a shame that a proud old company with such a great history should be reduced to ladies razors and steak knives...
Again I say, crap.
I never did end up getting a sword; wish I had.
One more post, and I'll be able to move you off of my "inactive" blogroll... glad you're back!
Posted by: Bubblehead | 16 January 2006 at 05:40 PM
I'd never list you as inactive! Unless you announce that you're going inactive. But until then, nehvah!
So, silly question, here, but do these swords still have edges?
Posted by: ninme | 17 January 2006 at 01:14 PM
Each of the simple life is desired! Sometimes people can not simply live! Often feel tired! Really frustrating! So people should maintain a childlike innocence
Posted by: Jordan 1 | 24 August 2010 at 02:52 AM