LOTR UC knock-offs - Final summary

PHArchivist

PHArchivist

Master Member
Not sure how appropriate this thread is anymore with the return of UC, so this may be my final report.

I now have bought FOUR Anduril knock-offs, and TWO Strider ranger swords just to attain the quality I desired. I would have been better off going with UC to begin with.

At any rate, there is a DISTINCT quality difference in these knock-offs. The best swords were the ones that have "440 Stainless Made In China" engraved into the base of the blade. In my estimation the are most likely as good as the UC.

The rest that I bought are worse that if you yourself took a silicon mold and re-cast a sword with white-metal or pewter. They're awful, and would not meet the standards of any self-respecting RPF member.

Here is my eBay seller summary in order of best to worst:

Topicool (business): About $70 - $80. Outstanding. If you pay with a credit card or Paypal, expect a long box on your door tomorrow or the next day. Blistering fast shipping, automated on-line purchase, smooth as silk. The swords are of the significantly higher quality. Mine had a few small nicks; of the caliber that I am asking myself if it is worth the hassle of returning.

Venti (private seller, I believe): About $70 - $80. Same high-quality sword as above; had a communication glitch that he and I agreed was an unusual and one-off situation; otherwise steller service

2310 (business - Dark Sword Armory): $35 - $55. Acceptable service but swords of the worst possible swords; lumpy cast hilts, bent, wobbly, and wavy blades

ran77nh: Questionable service, slow shipping, pretty poor quality sword


*********************************************************

What's the general thought on these?

Quality differences (for a display item only)?

is buying one equated to supporting recasting?

Seeing the Anduril sword all over eBay for less than $100...
 
Last edited:
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

i have several, for prob less than 50 each, serves my wall hanging purposes fine, especially the legolas knives...
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I have the witch king blade. Which is awesome - only main issue - the blade is chrome and not that hammered steel look.

I also have sting and anduril which are awesome. Mine were also under $50, I got mine at a flea market about 5 years ago.

For under $50 and for swords that hang on the wall they serve their purpose.
 
Last edited:
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I bought a knockoff Elven sword. The type seen at Helm's Deep.

When I bought mine, I don't think the UC versions had even been announced, much less produced... though I could be wrong.
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

Personally, I would equate it to recasting. This is a bit long-winded, but this is why I feel this way:
I was at a place once where I almost bought some. They were in that same price range of around $50 a sword or so. The reason I didn't buy them was because I was looking closer at some of the swords, and the guy at the table got to talking. I knew they were knock-offs, and was looking at some of the swords of ones I already owned the UC version of. Visually there were very few or no difference at all, and I think I mentioned that to the guy. He basically explained to me that I should just buy his swords because they were the same as the UC blades, but had a different name on the box, and were a third the price. "Why," I asked... Essentially he told me that the factory he got his swords from in China (I think it was China, but this was a few years ago) was making the same identical product as UC, because it was 'being made for UC, but selling cheaper, so UC could sell more.' I don't know how credible this guy was, but he really seemed to know what he was talking about. If that is true, then they really are simply being recast from UC products, or these other factories somehow (whether by 3-d scanner or however) got a copy of UC's CAD files and is just making their own blades.

If UC isn't making a particular blade you want, and you find a knock-off of it though, I see no reason why not to. I picked up a knock-off Morgul Knife (the one that stabs Frodo) for something like $15. I think it's pretty cool. This was before Kropserkel released theirs, by the way...

Anyways, just my $.02.:)
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

It depends on which knock offs you're refering to. Like deathscyth said, there are some that are too exact not to be straight copies (I won't buy those. Recast IMO) but there are others that were obviously made by hand based on the real deal. I have a few of these. The quality....iffy. The Witchking Sword I have is the worst. The blade doesn't taper right and is attached to the hilt and a slight angle and the detail on the hilt is a bit rough. Sting was somewhat better. I had to take a grinder to the edge of the blade to smoothout some rough spots but it's a fairly nice representation. The best of the three I have is the Uruk sword. I've compared it to my buddy's UC and the dimensions are slightly different and the back spike is welded on (which leave a rather unsightly line) but all in all it pretty nice looking. I paid $40 or less for each of them.

So, I feel that the near exact/exact copies are recast and should be avoided but the hand made pieces, I don't see where those are any different than someone here making their own versions and selling them off. Just my two cents...
 
Last edited:
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

as far as the recast issue:
is the main problem that these knock offs are SO good
or that the UC peice is SO overpriced(and apparently easily duplicated)?

i own both the ringwraith UC and knockoff, there is a big difference to me (the hammered metal look vs the 'pristine') and it was 'worth it' to get the UC, in other cases, i dont see the difference as obvious, and in those cases, why would i want the expensive version if it doesnt have a great paintjob or other things to differentiate it from a cheaper piece...

added:in some cases the 'UC value added' is the nice scabbard they make -in which the knockoff ones are total garbage...
 
Last edited:
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

Here are a few pics of mine. You can see the weird angle on the Wraith blade and the wrong taper to the tip. I only paid $25 for it though, so no big deal I guess, Sting had a really dark wash on the hilt and pommel that I removed (mostly) and the Uruk has the weld line I mentioned.

swords.jpg
swords1.jpg


swords3.jpg
swords2.jpg
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I've got the UC Strider Sword, Chinese knockoff, and Pakistani knockoff.

The Chinese knockoff is really nice. For the difference in price, it's well worth it.

The Pakistani knockoff is a POS. Stay far away from them.
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

So apparently there are varying qualities on knock-offs...

I'm primarily interested in the Anduril sword.

Any experience with these? The one I'm leaning toward is in the $80 - $90 range. And from what I gather here, there may well be a difference in price and quality amongst the knock-offs...
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I have a Anduril knock-off that I paid about $50 and it's a GREAT wall hanger!
It's huge, almost identical to a UC sword and it comes also with a plaque replica (again, almost identical to the UC one), I can take some pics if you need them, just let me know.
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

Looking to get a chinese Strider myself. They're carbon steel and better quality than UC stainless, and of course much cheaper.
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

glim999 said:
Very true. As was said earlier, avoid anything from Pakistan. It's really slopped together.
Click to expand...


Indeed - I am sure there are knockoffs that are just as good, but nothing I've owned has been as good as UC items, even the Noble Collection swords given to me as gifts, which cost twice as much...
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

It'll look rough, the blades are often crooked, and it usually has "pakistan" printed on the blade in black
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I have all of the available knock-offs for the LOTR swords and for the most part they make pretty nice wall hangers! There are a couple that are so so which are the Boromir and the Theoden swords!
I need to correct myself. Not all of my swords are knock-offs. I replaced my Gimli axe with the UC axe and then I bought the Walking axe.
Other than that they look pretty good!!:)
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

I also created my own Shards of Narsil. I used a knock-off Narsil that I paid around $30 for and Dremeled the hell out of it until it was in pieces. I took the UC Shards picture and scaled it to the knock-off and then cut it up. It took about 25-30 cutoff wheels to accomplish the project!:lol
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

AnythingSciFi said:
I also created my own Shards of Narsil. I used a knock-off Narsil that I paid around $30 for and Dremeled the hell out of it until it was in pieces. I took the UC Shards picture and scaled it to the knock-off and then cut it up. It took about 25-30 cutoff wheels to accomplish the project!:lol
Click to expand...

You know Kenny - that very project/idea is what got me looking in the first place! Especially since the oringinal UC shards are so expensive (why?)... But 25-30 cutofff wheels doesn't sound to appealing!
 
Re: LOTR United Cutlery knock-offs?

PHArchivist said:
You know Kenny - that very project/idea is what got me looking in the first place! Especially since the oringinal UC shards are so expensive (why?)... But 25-30 cutofff wheels doesn't sound to appealing!
Click to expand...
No need for a cutoff wheel - dip it in liquid nitrogen and then smack it on the floor...and there you have it Shards of Narsil!

:lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Q
Bilbo's Mailbox - LOTR/The Hobbit
Replies
11
Views
2,284
notquiteamaker
N
haasofprops
LOTR 2nd Age Gondor War Shield made with Wood & EVA Foam
Replies
6
Views
959
haasofprops
haasofprops
wayouteast
Star Trek 'Search for Spock' and 'Final Frontier' communicators
2 3
Replies
45
Views
4,166
scottsusernames
scottsusernames
JOATRASH FX
Firefly's VERA... One Final Revisit.
Replies
17
Views
1,613
JOATRASH FX
JOATRASH FX
iKillGiants
Lord of the Rings Prop Collection
Replies
0
Views
261
iKillGiants
iKillGiants
Back
Top