Albion Kingmaker Sword

On English effigies commemorating lords and knights from the mid- to late- 15th C, we can see that many favoured a single hand cut & thrust sword of elegant design. They are often of Oakeshott type XVIII or sometimes XV.

The Albion Kingmaker is named for one of the most dynamic and well known players for power in the Wars of the Roses: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (1428 – April 14, 1471) This sword is a good example of those knighlty weapons of moderate length that were so popular during his time.

The blade is a fine example of a type classified as Oakeshott XVIII (according to Oakeshott’s The Sword in the Age of Chivalry), combining broad width at the cutting section with a strong awl-shaped point. It has edges that arc gracefully to an acute point and hollow ground edge bevles. The raised midrib resutls in a superior stiffness while the keen edges are crisp and well defined. A hollow ground blade can have a thick and stiff spine and still be relatively light for its size. This well defined cross section helps in keeping weight down and establishes a quick and responsive balance. The very sharpness is shaped like the point of an apple seed resulting in an edge that is both resilient and efficient. This combines in a blade that is supremely effective in both thrust and cut.

The hilt components are investment cast in mild steel from original waxes carved by Peter Johnsson, based on Peter’s first-hand examination and documentation of period originals of this type.

The Albion Kingmaker Sword features a sharpened 1075 carbon steel blade heat-treated to a fine temper in the Albion Forge Shop. The grip is of stabilized birch, wrapped with cord and covered with the highest grade vegetable-tanned calfskin. The guard and pommel are solid steel.