Royal Armouries 14th Century Longsword

SWORDS OF EXCELLENCE
FROM WINDLASS STEELCRAFTS
The Royal Armouries Collection

The Windlass Sword Collection is brought to you by a collaboration between The Royal Armouries and Windlass Steelcrafts.
Windlass Steelcrafts is a world leader in the manufacture of swords and armour & The Royal Armouries is the home of the UK’s national collection of arms and armour.
Together they have the skills and knowledge to bring you the most historically accurate swords ever made giving you the truest and most authentic experience of swords of their time.

This new collection starts with a set of six historical swords, each one has been meticulously measured, weighed, and reproduced to an exacting standard under the guidance and approval of The Royal Armouries
Windlass Steelcrafts then using the finest steel and materials and their most skilled craftsmen, have brought every aspect of the original sword to life so you can have a piece of true history in your hand.

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This is a reproduction of Royal Armouries IX.1106, a mid-14th century longsword, found in Lake Constance -, where Austria, Germany and Switzerland meet. This sword features a stiff tapered blade, which is double- edged and straight, with an acute tip. It has a hand-and-a-half hilt, which could be used one or two handed, and wheel pommel.

The blade is of a simple flatted diamond cross-section, but the pommel has some complex and subtle shaping, with the front and back planes uniquely canted inward at the top. Sword of this type are not uncommon, and several survive in various collections. This type of sword may have been used by armoured men-at-arms and knights, usually one-handed on horseback or two-handed on foot. Swords like this were used in Europe in the second half of the 14th century and would likely have been familiar to fencing masters like Fiore dei Liberi and used at battles like Sempach in 1386. This sword seems quite specialized to armoured combat and halfswording (gripping the blade with one hand), due to the notable stiffness and mass of the blade. The edge geometry is quite obtuse, but the blade has a lot of presence in the strike. Equally, the weighty pommel could be used with good effect to strike in close combat.

This replica is crafted with a hand forged blade by skilled blacksmith, using modern 1080 high carbon steel that is fully tempered and is distally tapered for proper weight distribution. The sheath is made with a wood body and covered with leather. The tip is reinforced with a brass chape that features a traditional cut-out. At the throat, the leather extends upward and covers part of the guard at the ricasso.

Includes a certificate of authenticity on heavy stock, plus Windlass Classic Wax and polishing cloth.

Dimensions:
Overall: 44"
Blade: 34-1/2", double edge
Guard: 10-1/4" wide
Blade width at ricasso: 1-3/4"
Blade is distally tapered: 7/16" thick at guard, 7/32" at tip
Weight: 4 lb, 2 oz.