

When the package was delivered I was instantly worried, it was heavy as heck. I took the plunge, ordered it, and hoped for the best. I was nervous, $700 is a lot for a Windlass sword and I like sharp swords, not blunt ones. I was about to buy another sword but put that purchase on hold to get this one. When Matt Easton reviewed this sword I was instantly smitten. This sword is a solid buy at retail and a bargain with a discount. If you're after a gift for someone, though, it'll impress. The presentation and box is premium, but I'd personally wish they'd ship it simpler and pass the savings on. The outside of the scabbard looks great, but the core of the scabbard is the same old overweight (but also over built) scabbard you'd get at this price point.

Though, the markings on the blade leave quite a bit to be desired and do feel souvenir-ish (which technically this is), but if you're after a hard use sword, it probably won't bother you. Being based on an original, the proportions are authentic and probably can pass as a decent wallhanger. The CoP is very broad and all vibrational nodes are well placed. After sharpening it (took about 20 minutes, the sword comes 85 percent done with a superb primary bevel- I was able to cut a bottle with the factory edge), I've run the sword through many different targets and through quite a bit of drilling- it handles and cuts with the best of them. The handling and performance however is up there with the best. The sword form is correct where it counts. I find the idiosyncrasies charming, but if you're after an art piece, then perhaps look elsewhere. I would agree that this is slightly overpriced at $600, but MRL has coupons floating around everywhere and sales a few times a year.Īddressing the critical review above, yes this sword doesn't fit modern standards of fit and finish, but it greatly exceeds most historical originals.

This is the right direction and Windlass should go back to drawing board to revamp practically every older model they have, and feature the correct mass distribution to accurately represent the type of sword they claim to replicate. It handles well with excellent point precision, yet is still quite rigid for its length and carries authority in cuts. It features a graceful distal taper and accurate hexagonal cross section, just like a late medieval longsword of type XVII should. Under the direction of Matt Easton of scholagladiatoria, and Royal Armouries National Museum of England, Windlass did a highly faithful recreation of an typical example of this rare type of longsword. Prior to this attempt by Windlass, the only option you have is the premium makers like Albion and some custom makers, which cost a lot. Oakeshott type XVII longswords are rare to find on the reproduction market. I reviewed the 15th century English Longsword in 4k resolution on YouTube: and the second part with extensive cutting can be seen at
#MEDIEVAL SWORDS SERIES#
Personally, I will be purchasing more swords from this series and look forward to more historically accurate replicas in the future. Overall the sword is very sold for the money with the caveat that if you are expecting a perfect blade grind you may want to look elsewhere. I personally do not mind these finish flaws as I doubt historical examples would have been perfect in this regard either. The central ridge also does not perfectly line up with the tip but it is so minor that you could likely fix that just by sharpening it. On my example, the waves left one of the edges with a very slight warp in a section on the edge. From a distance the blade looks flawless, but if you get it in the right light there is a slight but noticeable waviness to finish, likely from forging. While it is simple, it fits the sword well and seems well constructed. While it is a rather heavy sword, the balance is close to the hand which combined with the pommel and the distal taper makes it very easy to The pommel is beautiful, surprisingly large, and is likely largely responsible for this swords Balance point. Nicely with slightly less than a 1/16in gap. The grip wrap is EXTREMELY tight with no gaps or overhang to be seen. The hilt is very impressively constructed. The sword itself looks and feels very nice overall. The included wax and cleaning cloth is a nice touch as well. The inner box is very thick, well padded, and it makes you feel as though the sword is a collector’s item not just a hunk of steel. Instead, will give my personal experience with it and some of the pros and cons.įirstly, the presentation is phenomenal. Matt Easton’s YouTube review goes over most on the details of the sword so I will not reiterate what he discusses.
