14th Century Longsword

Royal Armouries Sword IX.1106. Part of the Royal Armouries Collection by Windlass, the original is a mid-to-late 14th-century hand-and-half sword 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 a 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.

This type of sword may have been used by armored 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 for armored combat and half-swording (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 hand forged blade by a skilled blacksmith using modern 1080 high-carbon steel that is fully tempered and 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, a tin of Windlass Classic Wax, and a polishing cloth. Made by Windlass Steelcrafts, the original can be seen in the Royal Armories Collection, Object Number IX.1106.