Armour Class Acid Etched Scottish Basket Hilt

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Introduction

This acid etched Scottish basket hilt is made by Armour Class. The sword consists in a backsword blade mounted on a Scottish basket hilt. This purchase was my first contact with Armour Class. The initial delivery time given was between 18 and 22 weeks, it actually took twice this term. Other than that, communication with Iain was always easy and the sword came very well packaged.

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Measurements and specifications

Overall length : 39 5/8’’
Blade length : 33 1/4’’
Blade composition: EN45 high carbon Spring Steel Weight: ~2 lbs 14 oz
Point of balance: ~1 1/2” from the guard
Center of percussion: ~21 1/4’’ from the guard
Blade width: 35.6 mm at ricasso 35.2 mm after ricasso 17 mm at 1’’ from the point
Blade thickness: 4.8 mm at ricasso 2.1 mm at 1’’ from the point 0.4 mm at the point
Blade type: Backsword
Cross section: Triangular
Ricasso length: 1 13/16’’
Fullers width: 4.8 mm at largest
Fullers length: 23’’ (starting at 2 ¼’’ from the guard)

The Blade

The blade has a nice stiffness on the first ¾ of its length then, as the thickened back gives way to a false edge near the tip, it becomes far more flexible. The fullers are well made and even. The final polish of the blade is somehow blurry, somewhere between satin and mirror, and left with minor polishing/sharpening marks. The sword came to me sharpened. Sharpening is ok but could have been better made (unevenly sharpened: the blade is sharp form its middle down to the ricasso but duller in its upper section).

Hilt

The hilt is solid, well built and has a nice even finish. Guys at Armour Class did a nice job with the etching except for the end of the main knuckle-guard, where the etching fades a bit near the pommel. The handle is made of wood covered by ray skin. The wires on the hilt are not connecting with the pommel’s base ( ¼’’ apart).

Handling

This sword is very lively in the hand. The weight of the hilt combined with the lightness of the blade pushes the POB very close to the hilt (at the point where the sword barely holds on the display stand). This might have to do with the fact that Armour Class mostly produces swords for the reenactment market. On such a sword, you’d expect much more blade presence and authority in the cutting motions. The blade could in fact be a little broader or have a less acute profile taper and the POB would fall closer to original pieces.

Conclusion

While no match with Mr. Evans and E. B. Erickson basket-hilt replicas, it is a pretty decent sword at this price range. The handling characteristics are pretty good (even if a bit off compared to historical specs), it is solidly built and the hilt is beautiful.

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Nice engravings on the hilt.

That hilt looks great! I'm not a big fan of AC's blades, but they sure do make nice basket-hilts for the price.