This 14th – 15th Century Arming Sword and Scabbard were crafted by Stephan Lockwood in the USA. The sword blade is of 6150 high carbon steel that has been both well-tempered and sharpened. It has been tempered to a hardness of 52 – 53 HRC. The guard and pommel are cast steel and the wood grip of poplar is overlaid in tightly formed leather.
The wood-core scabbard is overlaid in tightly fitted and stitched leather and finished with a metal chape and knotted anchor points with metal buckles for attaching the scabbard to the belt. The sword belt is sturdy, yet supple leather with an adjustable waist buckle and hanging straps that fit to the scabbard buckles.
Professional warriors of the late Medieval period had to contend with the increasing quality and prevalence of plate armor and the transformation of sword geometry to emphasize the thrust. Both sword and technique evolved to get past, around or through the armor.
This arming sword certainly shows that transition as the sharply tapered blade with a diamond cross-section is in a form ideal for slipping between armor plates, puncturing weaker plates and efficiently splitting the chainmail often worn between armor plates.
The wide blade base not only gives the blade a strong foundation, but it serves to bring the point of balance closer to the crossguard and reducing the counterweight resistance on the tip of the blade which makes it easier for the wielder to control the tip when thrusting. This widened section also gives the warrior an easily-gripped section when half-swording for extra thrusting control and puncture power.
Though a sword of this style is purpose-designed for a professional or noble late medieval warrior to defeat his armored peers, the blade retains enough width to allow it to still be used effectively for cutting and slashing.
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