Royal Armouries Single-Edged Arming Sword

The Windlass Sword Collection is brought to you as a collaboration between the Royal Armouries 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.2638, a single-edged arming sword of the mid-15th century, reputed to come from the river near site of the Battle of Castillon (1453) and purchased by the Royal Armouries in 1984. Over 80 swords, are said to have been recovered from the same find spot, but this sword is without direct comparison in that group, having a distinctive hilt and very unusual single-edged blade. At first sight it looks like a regular double-edged arming sword with a central tip, but on closer inspection it has a single-edged blade, of wedge cross-section, having a false edge on the back of the blade near the tip. The blade is remarkably wide and thin, with a very acute edge geometry leading to a fine edge.

The quillons end in curled tips which could help to retain an opponent’s blade, the asymmetrical grip is located towards the back edge, and the squat scent stopper pommel makes the short grip comfortable to hold. 

This sword feels very nimble, and it is deceptively light compared to its width, due to the thinness of the blade and distal taper. While it could thrust effectively against unarmored targets, it seems to be optimized for cutting, the tip being broader and the blade more flexible than a typical arming sword of the time.

This replica is crafted with a hand forged blade by and 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.