Are these knights from Chess Bazar good enough?

I bought a chess set from Chess Bazar (Zagreb 1959 one), beautiful but...

The 2 white knights are very different from each other (e.g. one of the knights has a much bigger head). They seem too much different to me. CB has been contacted and they say that the pieces are handmade and "little differences" cannot be avoided.

Please look at the picture below, it is really a little difference? Would you find it acceptable?

Please let me know what you think!

the black knights look like the "small head" light one

As the set was under offer (I have to say a very good one, but still no mention that the pieces were defective) I could not return them, I asked if they could replace the knight that in my opinion was defective, but the answer was as above.

Thanks DesperatekinqWalk, I would think the difference is too much to be fine, but I am collecting opinions, to see what other people think, I understand you think it is ok

It is okay!

Maybe take a picture of the whole set, pieces in action. From your one photo, it looks not much too much for me.. I mean it's not grotesque or striking. What you need is an attitude like 'yeah, one is really different but I know that, and it doesn't matter, because I prefer to live with it over returning it for a nice substitute'. You and the knight might become big friends. If this is not your attitude, then I'd say get a substitution no matter what, for free, half price or regular. I find the irregularity would entitle you to half a compensation. Like free knight or free shipping or half price.. negotiate.

I like it - make one the kingside knight and the other the queenside and you will recognize them as you play. Give them different names! Small differences are part of the charm of a wooden set.

Thats funny. Rosencrantz and Gildenstern. Or do they need something more Croatian?

My understanding is the set was sold at a discount, but no mention of there being any issues or defects with the set. What's ideal is the seller to disclose if the set is being sold because of manufacturing issues or defects. It's possible there could just be misunderstandings of the return policy and when something qualifies for a return vs why this didn't qualify for a return.

Thank you for all your opinions! Just for clarity, the set was on offer, with no possibility of return, but not as a defective one, just a Christmas time offer

Hello @Riccardo1705. Don't worry, it's clear to all of us here (except one), so just please ignore that one person.

I have this very same set from ChessBazaar and I really like it. Mine is the rosewood version that I bought with a 50% discount. There was no mention of 'second' or 'defective' or 'imperfect', and had the same return policy as all of their sets that they sell. I know there was mention here of a "no questions asked" policy, but this is more of a marketing statement and can't be taken literally. Yes, they WILL ask you a question if you want to return it, so that they can determine the amount of refund. And this process is pretty much the same with all major chess vendors, even if purchased through Amazon, Etsy, etc...

Your specific question is WHICH classification is this ... 'defect' or 'handmade variation'. In the case of a true 'defect', the vendors' policies would resolve with a full refund or other free resolution. However, for 'variations' from such things as craftsmanship, wood color, wood grain, weight, height, etc... , these are subjective and very often unavoidable (and expected) with handmade chess sets. And thus, the norm would be a partial refund or some other cost for resolution if the buyer insisted.

For almost all wooden chess sets being sold, the knights have the most variations due to the high amount of hand-craftsmanship involved. In my Zagreb set, all four of my knights have slight differences. Heck, in all of my wooden chess sets, the knights have slight differences, and more so than any other pieces in those sets. Yet I will say that I don't notice the difference during play, and haven't noticed since the first day when I put the knights side-by-side.

I see your knights and ,yes, there's a noticeable difference between the two, but I doubt you'll notice it during play. And you probably bought that set with a 50% discount like me. I suspect that if you had paid full price, then CB might have been willing to offer an agreeable resolution. But at 50% off, I guess their profit margin is already slim, so may be a little less accommodating when it comes to variations in craftsmanship.

Ultimately, and with the same set as yours, my opinion is that the variation is acceptable for play. Of course, at 50% off, you can also buy another set, match up the knights a little better, select the best pieces of grain, color, tool marks, felt, weight, or other variations, and then keep a set for yourself, and gift or sell the other set. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your chess set.

I agree, I also kinda like it. Makes it a very special set, since the "little" differences, is very prominent. We insist on the names Rosencrantz and Gildenstern. (#14). Or... rather, lets's have a vote on names.
I nominate Lancelot and Gawain.
Invent a legend for the set, like: During manufacture the horse that the artist used as model absconded (or were killed in the battle of ... some famous or infamous medieval battle), and he had to use another model.
I also call for a pic of the complete set in action.

Let's be honest. Chess bazaar sales aren't really sales. Everything is permanently on sale.

Thank you Yenster1, your comment was very useful