TOPIC: V1 Silver Knight SF|Story..... Pt III

Standard Finish Silver Knight 12Watt+ QC Mint Green

A must-have Hilt that resonates simple elegance with zero fuss emerged from the Saber Wish-List and became an acquired addition into a Collection.
It’s not a Thin Neck or a Crystal Chambered design but a worthy inclusion nonetheless.

My first impression of this Hilt as it was unwrapped from the rectangular box of joy was of little desire as the size (of length and girth) was much bigger than what I was anticipating. No Joke, I uttered the words: What’s an UltraSabers doing in here?! (you know because US Hilts take that whole thicker diameter and Maglite looking appearance.) Site images and scaled wield against hand size (through my perception) always projected a slender Hilt about consistent to Apprentice Sabers. This, much like Sinister Prophecy, I’d be lying if I said the first sighting was received as a favourable one.

But to avoid confusion, it is a Saberforge and not the other as, as far as I know, the other doesn’t make one of similar influence in appearance or referenced name. There is the VV version but more than likely and highly probable, if it was ordered when I entered the Saber scene (Dec2015), with their Lead Times, I’d still be waiting. Saberforge’s Silver Knight is far more competitive by price as well, so was a no brainer.

Still, with getting used-to its dimensions as a different perspective of accuracy was painted (handling acceptance and not scaled replica), it remains an extraordinary Hilt and quite remarkable. It is amongst the longer of the Elite Hilts (of SFs range and amongst my Collection) and length is consistent enough. Just needed to curb my initial interpretation of expecting something smaller than actually is. It’s not perfect but doesn’t wander far, as with a no-nonsense design, there isn’t anywhere for ‘character flaws’ to hide however without complete dismissal, is accepted as if it were.

Fellow Monarch Owners/appreciators may recognise something familiar here when it comes to the topside blade retention thumbscrew. The brushed silver surface had also been given a (amateur applied) polished treatment [customisingsy], not high mirrored in finish with a flawless unblemished surface, but enough to my satisfaction by applied methods to generate some shine and lustre without making it a completely reflective surface. Life and energy has most definitely been breathed into the Hilts appearance that ordinarily appears under appreciated.

What was supplied as stock was a frosted silver covertech that looked out of place against the original brushed silver finish of the Hilts entirety. In order to encourage and further heighten the dual-toned black & silver scheme, a black covertech was subbed-in. The covertech’s retention sockethead screw doubles as a lower shroud anchor also. Similar to the shrouded bodies like Shadow Hunter & Avenger but more closely tied to Avenger where the neck2choke is glued and the AV & charge port switches aim at minimising the sideways shifting. Unlike Avenger though, this entire section remains solid2touch and feels solidly assembled.

The black inlaid shallow-grooved body is effectively done in a matte finish. The accent grooves simulate contrast and hand positioning during wield here remains uncompromised.

A small silver greeblie (also frosted) was mounted on the opposite side. The black screw shown currently is the original topside blade retention screw in its new home.

The pierced nipple housing a D-Ring on the Pommel. This is the elected belt-clasp system by factory. What I remain unsure of (and what the reasoning behind it is) are the joint inclusion of types i.e. D-Ring and a Covertech.
Choose one and be done with it I say. Sometimes including both for flexible variety just over-complicates a clean and classic appearance.

Some Specs and Measurements:
Quad Cree 12Watt+ Mint Green| Champion Tier| Sabercore2.0 Crimson Font| Quick Connect LED Module| Silver AV, White-lit| *Silver covertech| *Dual Tone Blade Plug| *lazerforge kill key| *black topside blade retention| *silver greeblie opposite covertech|
Black O-Ring (between choke and emitter).
*=stock inclusion

Hilt Length: 324.48mm (12.7748 inches)
Blade Socket Depth: 45mm (1.7717 inches)

Emitter Diameter: 37.88mm (1.4913 inches)
Choke Diameter: 34.78mm (1.3693 inches)
Choke Length: 24.66mm (0.9709 inches)
Body Diameter: 37.3mm (1.4683 inches)
(my US Manticore measures This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
Pommel Diameter: 41.10mm (1.6181 inches)

Weight: 472 grams

Balance (from Pommel to POI): 167mm
Balance (from Pommel to POI) 26”: 311mm
Balance (from Pommel to POI) 32”: 343mm
Balance (from Pommel to POI) 37”: 392mm

A nice little accenting detail on the primary Emitter flute-edge as it sits under the outer angle-cut shroud.

A close up of the Monarch thumbscrew. Adds greater depth and volume to a relatively basic stock surface (well.. I believe so, so am running with it). The ill-fitting of the Emitter shroud also meant that the factory placement of the original black accessory didn’t seat tightened and centred due to the lower nub portion above the threads.

Single LED retention setscrew on the left and the second blade retention (by setscrew) on the right. Two secured tighten-points for inserted blade to ensure it’s held in tight. If the top of the heatsink marks ground zero, first blade retention (topside) measures at 10mm and the second blade retention (underside & pictured) measures at 24mm.

I have two gripes from observation here. The Emitter’s shroud has been glued-tight over the cylindrical fluted blade-well without any precision. The resulting accessible angle is askew meaning, whilst the allen key doesn’t go in centred, the retention setscrew is tucked beneath the folds of the two aluminium surfaces so it can’t be completely removed by unscrewing. Over the course of time, it also disables any easy efforts to change/replace said setscrew from the repeated tightening/loosening of as it bites against the inserted blade or plug. With blade or plug absent from the blade-well, the setscrew still freely runs along the female threads and can separate from the Emitter internally but is deemed impossible to be fed through from the overlapped exterior.
Am unable to successfully swap-out the setscrew with a thumbscrew also.

Along the right is a faint frosty (media blasted surface with silver anodise) vertical line that has, as factory inclusion, a black rubber O-Ring perched atop. This is cheap and unsightly and unnecessary. If a recessed black anodised accent can be done on the opposite end (where the covertech sits) then something similar could be done here also. Seems like such a generic after thought during the design think-tank where, likely, the conceptual artists were looking at it and thinking it needs something and rather than implementing a design element to remain consistent, a trivial hair-tie was used and concluded as, That’ll do. But it doesn’t.
It’s just laziness IMO. It was the first to be removed.

Another example of poor execution and failed attention to detail. A recessed AV switch tucked beneath the hilt’s outer circumference is smart. No accidental trigger and is combined seamlessly into a refined design. A charge port that sticks out past the hilt’s outer circumference isn’t. It doesn’t seat recessed like the adjacent switch and in addition to being unsightly, becomes a bit of a snag point too.

Mint Green is a beautiful illuminated colour. My first experience with it was with Epoch version2.0, a preowned using the standard 12Watt without the plus. My initial concept pair was matching it with another, pairing Cyan. But with the added flexibility of the QC LEDs, options are many without the slight sacrificed brightness going an RGBA+. No difficulty with swapping out the module on this hilt either. Straight in and out with little fuss.

Frost White.

Light Blue

Yellow

Amber

Blood Orange

Deep Red

A few criticisms but all-in all, a phenomenal Hilt. It’s generous length accommodates, rather easily one, two or three closed hand positions.
Maybe shave a few inches shorter to retain agility.

Silver Knight Cyan versus Epoch Mint Green

Thank you.