Royal Armouries 15th Century Falchion

The Windlass Sword Collection is brought to you as a collaboration between the Royal Armouries, Windlass Steelcrafts and sword expert Matt Easton.  

You may have heard of Matt Easton through his YouTube channel, where he has rightly gained a wide and passionate following of enthusiasts who appreciate his expansive knowledge of swordsmanship. Matt had been searching for a set of medieval swords to recreate, with each minute detail and measurement captured. Naturally he came to the Royal Armouries, home of the UK’s national collection of arms and armour to make this selection.  

This new collection comprises a set of six historical swords, manufactured by Windlass Steelcrafts. Using the finest steel and materials, forged by the most skilled craftsmen, the Windlass Sword Collection is truly history brought to life. Every aspect of the original artefact has been considered in production, to deliver the most authentic experience. Whether it be the weight, proportion or feeling in the hand, the Windlass Collection Swords are replicas in a class of their own. 

This replica is a reproduction of Royal Armouries IX.144, a single-handed, single-bladed steel sword.  mid 15th - early 16th century.

Known as an infantry hanger, side arm or falchion. The original has resided in the Royal Armouries collection since before 1916 and its exact origin before that is unknown but it is part of a group of similar swords with English provenance. This family of swords, sometimes known as ‘Wakefield’-type hangers’ (after one of the group, ‘The Wakefield sword’, being found near the site of the Battle of Wakefield, 1460), often feature beaked pommels and S-shaped hand guards. Some have an additional side bar or lug on the guard, as seen in this example. (Note: the lug on the original had been damaged and is bent, meaning it actually pokes into the hand, which has been rectified on the reproduction. 

These type of short swords were popular sidearms for billmen and archers during the Wars of the Roses and into the early Tudor period. Swords similar to this could have seen action in battles like Wakefield, Towton, Barnet, Tewkesbury and Bosworth. This example features a deceptively complex and challenging single edge blade, with subtle transitions of cross-section and clever hollow grinding and a fuller to make it lighter. It has a graceful hollow ground front edge and a slender but strong point. The hilt provides a good level of hand protection for the time, for soldiers who were not generally wearing gauntlets.

A quick and easily manoeuvrable sword, this replica is crafted with a hand forged blade, by an experienced, skilled blacksmith, using modern 1080 high carbon steel that is fully tempered and is distally tapered for proper weight distribution. The sheath is made with a wood body and covered with leather. The tip is reinforced with a brass chape that features a traditional cut-out. At the throat, the leather extends upward and covers part of the guard at the ricasso.

Includes a certificate of authenticity on heavy stock, Windlass Classic Wax and polishing cloth.