
Another set new to our collection of wood chess pieces is the American Staunton wood chess set. It is not only a striking set, but is a bargain for the price.
The king stands 3 3/4 inches tall with a 1 5/8 inch base. The knight has the traditional raised head with his ears laid back, teeth bared and nostrils flared so that he's ready to do battle!
The dark side of this set is made from your choice of Ebonized hardwood, Rosewood, or Sheesham. The light pieces are made of Boxwood. The pieces all have felt bottoms. Typical to fine wood, the grain and color may vary slightly from piece to piece. Treat them as you would fine furniture. Avoid leaving them in direct sunlight and store them in a humidity stable area.
These pieces are weighted. The smaller pieces contain lighter weights, while larger pieces have heavier weights. The entire set weighs approximately 3 1/4 pounds.
We suggest using a board with squares from to 2" to 2.25". Complete set of 34 pieces - extra queens included.
At this point I have purchased a number of great chess sets from Wholesale Chess, but this is the one that finally inspired me to write a review. A really attractive, solid, well-proportioned set, with big, heavy pieces that fill the squares. A pleasure to play and analyze with. I was a little troubled by the earlier review that described this set as a library set trying to be a tournament set, but having received it, I have to respectfully disagree with that reviewer. These are large, handsome pieces, and their shape is very appropriate for their size. On top of that, Wholesale Chess customer service is consistently fantastic. Highly recommend this set.
How can I put it? The American Staunton set is a Library size set trying to be a Tournament size set. The King's finel is 3/4 inch tall. This set would look much better as a 3.25 than a 3.75 set. Other than that the set is quite good. I got the ebonized version. The ebonized color is a solid jet black coat. No natural Boxwood color trying to peek out. A+ on this. No chips and no uneven carving of pieces. All and all this is a good solid set to play with at the club or at home. I gave the set 3 stars because of the set trying to be a size it is not.
There is a small check out of the grain in one of the dark pawns I received and is a flaw in the wood but not the craftsmanship, hence the 4 stars instead of 5 here. I don't think that you could reasonably expect a set to be of any higher quality in this price range as it's beautiful for a set actually made to be used for casual, club or tournament play. The weight factor was a big consideration for me and these are very consistent and well balanced. The knights are a little different but very nicely carved and those" horses" as we're not supposed to call them all make me laugh a little. I purchased the sheesham wood for the dark pieces as I like the natural wood grain look, but that's subjective. The finish is great and easy on the eyes whether you 're playing or just watching. "If you're looking for a set to use and that looks terrific without spending a lot of money, these are the ticket!" Customer service at Wholesale Chess has been great thus far and they don't waste any time shipping your orders.
This pieces are nicely done. Well crafted with a solid heft to them. They are a pleasure to play with.
I have been a professioal woodworker for 35 years. I have purchased many different chessmen to go with my custom made chessboards. This set is at the top of the list, fine finish,heavy weight, just a beautiful set.
Great design and pieces are close to those I use in tournament play. It is exactly what I was looking for.
Nice shape, nice weight, well balanced, perfect grip, great colours. Those pieces are really perfect. Can not imagine something better for playing. Classic design with a modern spirit. Congratulations WholesaleChess! Thanks a lot!