Windlass Steelcrafts – Royal Armouries Collection – 14th Century Hand-and-a-Half Sword

This powerfully-proportioned sword is a close reproduction of Royal Armouries Sword #IX.915 – An imposingly large hand-and-a-half sword or longsword, likely of the late-14th century. Through collaboration with experts at the Royal Armouries, Matt Easton the sword was exhaustively documented and the careful craftsmanship of the skilled bladesmiths at Windlass Steelcrafts were able to closely reproduce the dimensions, weight, construction and handling properties of the museum original.

The blade is crafted from well-tempered 1075 high carbon steel. Its guard and pommel are mild steel and the blade is robustly peened over the tang for a firm and solid overall construction. Its grip is carved wood which is wrapped in tight cord-textured leather. The scabbard is wood which is bound in stitched leather and capped with a brass chape. Included with the sword is a Certificate of Authenticity.

The precise origin of this European sword is unknown, but from the markings it is likely to be German or possibly Italian. It found its way into the Arsenal of Alexandria possibly as a diplomatic gift, war booty or as a tribute object to the Sultanate of Egypt, where it was inscribed with Arabic text. From there it made its way into at least one private collection, before subsequently being acquired by the Royal Armouries.

This big knightly sword features a broad and powerful Oakeshott Type XVIa blade of 38 inches. This is quite a heavy sword by the standards of the day, due to the length and breadth of the blade, but is wonderfully balanced thanks to the distal taper, long grip and large pommel. Similar swords to this can be seen extensively in late-14th and early-15th century art, including manuscripts and also knightly effigies and brasses.

Such swords were popular at this time all over Europe, from England to Italy, from Portugal to Poland, and they are featured in a number of contemporary fighting treatises like Fior di Battaglia by Fiore delli Liberi (1410). They were used on foot and mounted, in armour and unarmoured, with one hand or two-handed. This example is an especially powerful cutting weapon and less specialised to the thrust than some other longswords of the time.