I just received an MRL catalogue last week. They have some interesting new items in most categories. However, I can't figure out the namings they sometimes use or the dating they sometimes assign. :)

For instance, there is their "Late Spanish Sword" which they date to circa 1480:

[ Linked Image ]

Unusual, but interesting and historical. It appears to be based on a sword possibly made in Venice and definitely housed in Florence (yep, Italy), dated to circa 1500. Here's the Italian text from the book I found it in:

Unreliable OCR software wrote:

Venezia ?, c. 1500 Spada di stocco Fornimento in bronzo, con pomo a lira, già dorato, sgusciato profilato e messo a giorno da due fori circolari e da due mistilinei. Impugnatura fasciata di spago coperto di pelle scura, non sua. Elso coi bracci leggermente volti in basso e finiti a controcurva; escono da un massello messo a giorno da due fori circolari e ornato di sgusci e profilature, formanti scudetto. Sono a sezione di esagono, con sgusci alla metà esterna superiore. II massello è messo a giorno da due fan cui ne corrispondono altri nella parte superiore della larna, sua, a sezione di rombo (a e b). Proviene dalla Collezione Carrand. [1052 X 2220; 840 X 67; 1300] Il rapporto elso-lama ricorda quello dde cinquedee per Ia presenza dei fori corrispondentisi, che perb qui non sono bloccati dai perni limati a cieca. Il pomo ricorda quello della spada del Sodoma, richiamata alla fig. 147 e quella del San Michele del Botticelli agli Uffizi databile intorno al 1490-1495. Nella Collezione Carrand al Bargello, è conservato un pomo di analoga struttura (c).

They also have an "Early Spanish Sword" they date to circa 1300:

[ Linked Image ]

Note that its blade and furniture put it in that family of swords that includes the sword of Henry V, the sword in the Royal Armouries that Albion based the Kingmaker off of and numerous others. Those all date to the 15th century pretty convincingly. Oakeshott says the family saw its popularity from circa 1410 through perhaps 1550. While diamond cross-section sword blades can be found in period art (like the effigy of one of the Longspee's in Canterbury Cathedral) late in the 13th century, a date of circa 1300 for a hollow-ground diamond section blade would be unusual (though perhaps plausible--just barely).

Interestingly enough, I found a similar sword to MRL's in the same book as the possible inspiration for their "Late Spanish Sword." It shares a diamond section blade, though with a much stouter mid-rib, a guard with three trios of incised lines on the ecusson like the MRL piece, and a pommel whose raised rim is not raised very far and is oddly flat. It's housed in Madrid and dated to 1490-1500. It looks kind of similar and may be MRL's inspiration, though the dating is way off. Since it resides in the Real Armeria in Madrid you can probably call it Spanish though it's published in a book about Italian edged weapons. :)

They also have a new rondel dagger of unusual form. I'd love to see the inspiration for it. Looks kind of cool.

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

They also have a new great helm that they call a "Crusader Great Helm":

[ Linked Image ]

---

 Attachment: 12.79 KB

Venetian sword

 Attachment: 41.5 KB

Hilt

 Attachment: 29.82 KB

Madrid sword

I would bet that the early spanish sword shares the same blade as the old Arbedo. They look fairly similar to me, and if I remember the stats correctly from eyeballing them, share similar properties.

I'm not sure if it does share the same blade....a MRL representative said that it was close, but not the same blade. I think the main difference may be the thickness...I know the Arbedo had a famously thin and whippy blade. This one is 3/16th " thick. It also is slightly hollow ground (I don't think the Arbedo was.) However, it looks like the thicker blade has changed the handling characteristics in the wrong direction. I assume it's not whippy, but it now has a balance point of 6-8 " and a weight of 3 lbs 6 oz.
Oh well,
Dan

That's interesting, thanks Dan! Its a nifty looking sword.

Hmm, I'm not too interested in these new ones, it seems Windlass only adds late medieval swords lately. They should re-make some of their old retired ancient styles better than the old models and bring them back to life instead imo. If I see another 1300-1600 A.D. sword from Windlass I'm gonna puke!! :\ :\ :\

That rondel is very disappointing, even if it is based on a historical piece, it's quite ugly. They could have picked a much nice one to make.

I'm intrigued by that Early Spanish Sword. And that is saying a lot considering it's a Windlass.

Chad,

Did you see a new falcion as well, I see one on their online website that I don't recognize that looks interesting with a fluted? pommel and actually nice looking scabbard. Maybe called footsoldier's falcion? I saw it last week.

Frustratingly, since they redesigned there website, they don't seem to post the relevant stats for the pieces, so I don't know the new falcion's blade lenght.

If you locate it could you post a picture of it please?

Thanks,

Terry

Hello again,

Would really be nice if MRL had a website that showed "new items" and didn't make you seach all over the place. I also see a "five lobed viking sword" and a bronze-hilted "bronze age sword" that I don't recall seeing before in additon to the Foot soldier's falchion. Perhaps a "dark age sword" as well, but maybe that was not new....

They sure make it difficult to navigate around their site to find anything... but at least they are still putting out some interesting new items...

Cheers,

Terry

I agree 100% with Johnathan, that Spanish Sword is intriguing, especially considering it is a Windlass and not an
Arms & Armor or an Albion :!:

Bob

I agree that the early Spanish one looks nifty. But I am not terribly hopeful about it. I would imagine places like KOA might have it soon, and priced for around $200, and if its going on the wall, that might be fine. But I have reviewed and handled many of the newer, better looking Windlass pieces lately, and aside from looking better, they still suffer the same problems more often than not. :(. Maybe one day they will really get it right and designs like this will be backed up with performance!

hello guys .. somebody knows the lenght of the German Hand and a Half Sword?? -- in my opinion the grip seems too short for being a hand and half sword .. but maybe am wrong .. :C

Thanks for the info Chad .. am agree with you about the pommel style.. :D

I like the 'Swedish Viking Sword'...maybe cause I'm half Swedish.

It appears to be modeled on a famous sword from the Stockholm Museum of National Antiquities (right side of picture below), which also appears on the cover of "Vikings: Culture and Conquest" by Arnold.

They have taken some liberties with it though, such as lengthening the handle which would likely make it more comfortable and better balanced for the modern user. I wonder if the nasty looking spur-like pommel was purely decorative or meant to fulfill some more practical purpose (yech).

- JD