Medieval Swords and Daggers

I received my sword today, a very well made  and excellent hand  crafted sword, the hilt is rock solid, the pommel and guard are perfect, the seam on the leather grip is almost invisible, only one very small flaw, the blade is well made,  but about 1.5 inches at the tip the blade has a slight bend, otherwise a fantastic 15th century long sword, well done Windlass!

Matt Easton’s YouTube review goes over most on the details of the sword so I will not reiterate what he discusses. Instead, will give my personal experience with it and some of the pros and cons.

Firstly, the presentation is phenomenal. 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. The included wax and cleaning cloth is a nice touch as well.

The sword itself looks and feels very nice overall. The hilt is very impressively constructed. The grip wrap is EXTREMELY tight with no gaps or overhang to be seen. The cross guard conforms to the blade
nicely with slightly less than a 1/16in gap. The pommel is beautiful, surprisingly large, and is likely largely responsible for this swords Balance point. 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
handle. The scabbard also surprised me. While it is simple, it fits the sword well and seems well constructed.

Now for the cons. 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. On my example, the waves left one of the edges with a very slight warp in a section on the edge. 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. The edge is also fairly close
to being sharp should you want to do so. I personally do not mind these finish flaws as I doubt historical examples would have been perfect in this regard either.

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. Personally, I will be purchasing more swords from this series and look forward to more historically accurate replicas in the future.

Looking at the history of swords and how they represent the technology and tactics of their time era is one of the major factors that led us at Unsheathed Sword Reviews into the collecting addiction.  Given that, it is no surprise to anyone that we picked this sword to review.  

The question this sword poses is this:  is it possible to produce a sword that is an accurate representation of a historical piece, has good fit and finish, and performs well, all at a mid-range price point?  Unsheathed Sword Reviews gives our opinion on whether Windlass and the Royal Armouries were able to pull it off in our review below.

https://youtu.be/TcRg93-3Ym4

I would agree that this is slightly overpriced at $600, but MRL has coupons floating around everywhere and sales a few times a year.

Addressing the critical review above, yes this sword doesn't fit modern standards of fit and finish, but it greatly exceeds most historical originals. I find the idiosyncrasies charming, but if you're after an art piece, then perhaps look elsewhere. The sword form is correct where it counts.  

The handling and performance however is up there with the best. 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. It's a broad, powerful cutter. Point control is excellent. Expect a war sword.

The CoP is very broad and all vibrational nodes are well placed. The blade geometry is top notch. Being based on an original, the proportions are authentic and probably can pass as a decent wallhanger. 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.

The scabbard is budget plus. 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. It works though.

The presentation and box is premium, but I'd personally wish they'd ship it simpler and pass the savings on. If you're after a gift for someone, though, it'll impress.  The included wax is a nice touch.

This sword is a solid buy at retail and a bargain with a discount.

This sword is excellent!  The blade is stiff and plays nice in the hands.  Unlike many other two-handed swords that I own.  Unbeatable value for a sword of this quality!  My only complaint I have is it would be hard to make it safe enough to spar with, because it is that good!

The blade is superb!  Well balanced and plays nice in the hand.  Edge is blunt but would not take much to put an edge on it.  Well worth the price for an excellent sword!

Great fit and finish. Perfect packaging. And the sword handles great. Over all very please 5/5.

The sword is everything Matt’s review of it claims.

The fit and finish and features plus scabbard inclusion by themselves make the price point an unbeatable value, but add to that the fact that it is a 1:1 replica of a famously beautiful historical sword right down to the weapon dynamics, and you have a collectors item.
I am glad I bought it while it’s available. Do it.

The sword is everything Matt’s review of it claims.

The fit and finish and features plus scabbard inclusion by themselves make the price point an unbeatable value, but add to that the fact that it is a 1:1 replica of a famously beautiful historical sword right down to the weapon dynamics, and you have a collectors item.
I am glad I bought it while it’s available. Do it.

When Matt Easton reviewed this sword I was instantly smitten. I was about to buy another sword but put that purchase on hold to get this one. I was nervous, $700 is a lot for a Windlass sword and I like sharp swords, not blunt ones. I took the plunge, ordered it, and hoped for the best. When the package was delivered I was instantly worried, it was heavy as heck. Swords should be light and nimble not bricks. As I unpacked it my concerns were proven to be unfounded, the box the sword is packaged in is the heaviest duty cardboard box I have ever seen, the lid to the box weights more than the sword does!.
Inside was a wonderfully light and nimble sword. Easily handled with one hand and a dream with two.  The quality of this sword is amazing, straight lines, minimal waves in the blade finish and while not sharp it is not blunt. More like the final sharpening needs to be done and minimal material would be removed to get it to sharp. To say I am pleased is an understatement. I'll be ordering the 14th Century Arming Sword soon!  Kudos to Matt Easton, Windlass and The Royal Armories, they hit this one out of the park.