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write your own review of the Begali Blade.
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WB2LQF
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 2, 2011 20:06
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A Most Comfortable and Sturdy Straight Key
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I did not purchase my Blade; it was a very thoughtful gift in return for a very small favor. But what a genuine surprise it has turned out to be! I originally passed on the Blade when I purchased my Begali "Spark". Honestly, they are very close to each other in terms of feel, range of adjustment, feedback. But the Blade has the edge over the Spark because of the long arm which seems to impart a more fluid movement and a greater comfort level during a long session. I previously owned another manufacturer's long lever key and it was not all it was cracked up to be -- primarily because it was too noisy and the adjustments were not refined. I sold it. The Begali Blade shares neither of these traits -- it is another top shelf product from the master key maker, Piero Begali. Straight keys are not for everyone. If you are of the age - or temperament - where you take pride in truly manual keying then you might well find the Begali Blade a very enjoyable experience.
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WM6Q
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 3, 2011 15:32
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Fine instrument
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just got mine this past weekend. An excellent addition to my shack. Beautiful in appearance and a very smooth feel
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LA4AMA
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 31, 2010 10:02
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excellent !
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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BLADE - NEW TOP MODEL FROM BEGALI!
Through the last years, Begali has sent a lot of excellent Morse keys and paddles out on the market. His last release is really the best I have tried during my more than 51 years as a ham.
The BLADE is inspired from the famous SWEDISH KEY, But here Begali has gone one step further. Take a look at www.i2rtf.com to get an idea of how it is built up.
I am the owner of one of the Swedish Keys, and therefor I have easy to compare the BLADE with it. No doubt: Blade is a faster and more relaxing key to operate! I have the feeling that the key tries to run away from me! It is really a fantastic feeling to operate straight key during long transmissions without being tired!
I am also the owner of other professional straight keys, and so far: Blade is the best and fastest key I ever have used. However: There is one little change that should been done to make the best even better:
The knob it self should have been given a little different form. The top of the knob should have been formed as more like the half of a ball. This would make it more relaxing to rest the index finger on, in the traditional three finger grip on the key. The knob would by such a change been a little higher, but that would only make it even better! The bottom of the knob should have been more of a plate to allow better space for the thumb and middle finger to rest on.
CONCLUSION:
If You are looking for a straight key better than the best You until now have tried, give the Begali BLADE a chance!
Knut J. Kaasa, LA8IG
(posted by LA4AMA, Roar)
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BWOETTKE
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 2, 2010 15:39
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Exquisite Pump Key
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned this key for almost a year now, and it has displaced the Junker from my desk which, to me, was the pinnacle of straight keys. Since I have no talent to send Morse code by blowing on the knob, the Blade feels perfect to me, and I like the heft of the long lever and the fine adjustments. Among all the straight keys in my display cabinet, this among the best made, and certainly the best looking.
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G3YUH
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 2, 2010 14:39
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Above average
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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One should not get carried with singing the praises of the Blade simply because it looks good, I agree It is a nice key and very well made, but it uses the old flat spring tensioner idea as both pivot and tensioner, this by it's very nature is resistive, OK if you like that in a key, but compare it with an Amplidan or a Marconi 365 and it's simply no contest, a fine action key in my book should be able to be set so light that you can just blow on the finger guard to send code, you can't do that with a Blade no matter how it is adjusted..
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K4OSO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 12, 2009 06:26
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The Blade -- Beautiful, well-designed straight key
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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My Blade, serial no. 004, arrived just before the Dayton weekend. I was first impressed by the sheer size of the Blade. Because of camera perspective, the pictures in QST make the Blade seem rather small. Not so. The Blade is truly massive.
In use, the key has a very smooth, solid feel which is contributed to by its very large knob,
which is quite tall. When resting my finger tips on the lower ledge (skirt) of the knob, the top portion is cupped in the second joint of my fingers, giving me a great deal of control.
Since I am normally not a real straight key aficionado, I can't really do a comparative analysis of the Blade against other keys but, I can say the Blade is out of the league of both my J37 and Navy Flameproof. Due to my setup, with limited space on the desk, I send European style with my elbow and forearm in space.
The mass of the Blade allows me to really lean into it.
Due to its design, there is no lateral play in the Blade's arm....none,.zip,.zero,.nada! There are no trunion pin ends to bind, and no adjustment for pressure on bearings. The up and down movement as well as the lateral stability of the Blade's arm are all controlled by the blade (small letters). There may be other keys that utilize this system but, as I said, I'm no authority.
Originally, I was of the impression the Blade was not capable of sending with very light pressure. However, upon consultation with the folks at Begali, I was guided to the proper procedure to make the touch of the Blade as light as the proverbial feather. I would suggest Begali include these instructions along with the key. The Blade is a serious straight key that seems to hold adjustment well, and is capable of long periods of sending without fatigue.
I can't imagine a more impressively beautiful SK tool sitting on my operating desk.
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W2BFE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 25, 2009 05:48
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Excellent Device
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is not just a key, it is a telegraph instrument. Its massive iron base and non-skid feet hold it in place on my glass-topped table. It is as much a pleasure to use as to look at, with its beautifully machined, gold-plated parts, clean modern design and superb craftsmanship. It is comfortable to use with its large navy-style knob and is quiet in operation. Best key in my 60 years of CW operation.
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