The Dietrich type XIV sword by Landsknecht Emporium is a fantastically agile and nimble arming sword in the hand and is superbly suited for pairing with a shield or buckler for advanced swordplay and technique, especially when one is a student of the I:33 manuscript. Landsknecht took great care in reproducing the weight, dimensions and performance characteristics of a class of medieval swords that served as a ready sidearm, not only for war, but practical self defense in times of peace.
The keenly sharp blade is ground from 51CrV4/6150 spring steel which was heat-treated to 50-52 HrC. The crossguard is ground from mild steel and slid up on the tang in typical fashion for swords with the shoulders of the blade sitting in the crossguard to eliminate any gaps as best as possible, then the bottom of the crossguard is staked towards the tang to add even more security to the joint. The grip is a simple wooden core slid on the tang for a tight fit which is reinforced with epoxy resin. It is tightly wrapped in leather to complete the grip.
The pommel is hollow, as seen on many original swords of this type – a property that helps to keep the overall weight of the sword low while still making a huge visual difference, but only providing the necessary amount of counterweight for this quick and light blade. For this, the pommel is prepared from three pieces of mild steel. The flats are formed into slight domes, and the side of the pommel is drilled, then hand-filed to fit perfectly on the tang. Only after each part is prepared does Landsknecht weld the three pieces together, followed by cleaning up the surfaces and attaching the pommel by hot-peening the tip of the tang for a very strong and lasting assembly.
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