Towton Longsword – Black Grip

Arms and Armors Towton Longsword is a sword that is well-balanced – not only in the handling of the weapon itself, but also as a well-rounded and durable longsword design which is quite capable as a cut-and-thrust blade.

The sharp blade is crafted from 6150 high carbon steel and well-tempered to a efficient 50 HRc hardness. The crossguard and pommel are steel and the hardwood grip is tightly bound in a stitched leather wrap which has been shrunk into a tightly fitted grip with beeswax – a traditional method for making a high quality grip wrap.

The Towton, a type XVIIIa typical of the 15th century, has a blade which is designed as both a cutting and thrusting blade. Its cross-section is a flattened diamond with a subtle center ridge – a design which gives the blade good central rigidity and durability while maintaining a flattened profile to ensure it slices into and passes through a target without excess drag and resistance. The blade maintains a suitably wide profile to give it excellent cutting ability before elegantly tapering into a thrusting tip section. This is a strong and durable blade well-suited to the aggressive half-swording and winding techniques in the Lichtenauer and Fiore tradition.

Arms & Armor named this longsword after the Battle of Towton because this sword would have performed admirably in such a battle; its bearer would have in his hands a durable longsword that could withstand the rigors of a brutal dynastic battle, yet be a swift-striking longsword well-capable of defeating an array of armored and unarmored opponents armed with a extensive range of differing weaponry. This sword would have been a suitable all-rounder that could meet and defeat any challenger upon such a field.