Posts: 4,393 Location: Northern California
Sun 10 May, 2009 6:11 pm
I really like type XIII’s. I recall Peter Johnsson’s description of them as “Headsman’s swords built for war.” Who can resist a sword like that? I particularly fancied the ATrim Maker’s Mark triple-fullered XIII over at Christian Fletcher’s, so when it became in stock, I jumped on it.
I asked CF to make his most inexpensive scabbard for it, and to engrave a cross potent on both sides of the pommel.
There is a great review onsite by Mike Harris along with a cutting video. Check it out:
http://www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fl...lered.html -
Here are his specs for the sword, which differ slightly from the official ones:
Specs:
Blade: 30.5 inches
Grip: 7 inches
Overall: 39.75 inches
Guard Height: 8.5 inches
PoB: 4.5 inches from base of guard
CoP or forward node of vibration: 18.5 inches from base of guard with a "long sweet spot" of about 3.5-4 inches
Weight: 2 lbs. 10 oz
First, let me talk about the scabbard, or as CF calls it a black leather sheath – two layers of oak tanned leather. There is no wood core, so it has no stiffness, but it is still the best $95.00 scabbard I’ve come across. Gus Trim and Tinker make very good leather scabbards, but this is a step above them. No metal at chape and throat, but there is some equivalent shaping, and the throat grasps the sword so that it won’t fall out if upended, while allowing for an easy draw. Good quality leather too.
I don’t usually care for blackened fullers, but they give this sword a distinctive look. The cop is just beyond the end of the 3 fullers, so that helps you to center your strike on the “sweet spot”.
Mike Harris writes that this sword works as easily in one had as two. He must have a stronger arm than I do – for me, one handed is pretty good, but not quite as good as a dedicated single-hander. But with two hands, this sword is incredibly smooth. It goes right where you want it to, and has no problem with a sudden change in direction. The 7 inch grip is perfect for the width of my hands, snug but not too tight.
My only criticism of the sword’s appearance is the pommel. I think it should have had a bigger diameter, and taken the form of a type J, or even a boring old G. But then, period accurate pommels have never been the highest priority for Gus. Performance is what is important to him, and this sword certainly does perform.
What would a 13th century man-at-arms have thought of this sword? I thin he would have said, “Give it to me now”, though he would have been puzzled by the pommel nut, and been in sore need of an Allen wrench.
Sadly, I don’t have a photo of my particular sword, except for one CF took of the cross potent on the pommel. The other is taken from the Mike Harris review, but it looks just like mine.
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Cross Potent