Windlass Steelcrafts – Royal Armouries Collection – 15th Century Arming Sword

This close reproduction is based on Royal Armouries Sword #IX1426 which is an iconic arming sword in the Royal Armouries Collection that dates to the late-15th century and likely has an English origin. This arming sword is an effective cut and thrust sword and is attractively styled and finely proportioned as befits a weapon of status for a Knight or a well-heeled man-at-arms of the late 15th to early 16th century. It would be a ready sidearm on the battlefield and an effective self defense weapon when in town or camp. 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 sword shares some obvious similarities with the Westminster Abbey sword, which has been long associated with Henry V (but now believed to be from Henry VII’s funeral achievements). It also shares a number of close similarities with other swords from English churches, and from representations of swords on English funeral effigies and brasses. Due to the state of preservation, it has been suggested that this sword may indeed have been taken from an English church monument in past centuries, where it was likely originally deposited in the late-15th century.

This precise and faithful replica from Windlass is manufactured traditionally in very similar ways to the original. It features a robust cut and thrust Oakeshott Type XVIII blade of just over 30 inches, long curved quillons with characteristic terminals, short grip and prominent solid wheel pommel. The original has some unusual floral engraving at the base of the blade, which we have not replicated, because unfortunately on the original it is too damaged to reproduce with any certainty.