14th Century English Short Sword (Single Edged)

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This is inspired from an unusual but interesting 14th century, single edged, short sword from the Royal Armoury in Leeds.

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I made this piece in pattern-weld to add to the piece. The pattern-weld is flawless and is 180 layers of L6 and 1095. This blade is really tough.

I am nearly done with the scabbard. I still have to forge the chape. It will be a nicely decorated leather covered wood core with a 14th century chape.

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Here are some of the stats:

Steel: L6 and 1095, 180 layers
Weight: 2 pounds (0.907 kilos)
Blade: 23.23” (59.0 cm)
Overall: 28.8” (73.2 cm)
Grip Color: Dark Brown

This piece is sold. If you are interested in a similar piece, contact me at ericmycue@verizon.net to set up a custom order.

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Beautiful piece of work.

What is the blade cross section? The pattern welding makes it very difficult to judge the contours of the surface.

Hello all!

Eric,
That piece is simply gorgeous! And different from the norm, which makes it even more special!
Great work! Too bad I'm a "starving artist" that couldn't possibly afford such a work of art. Oh well, I can always drool over the photos...

That's an interesting original you based it on. I've never seen it before. Is it in any print resources? One thing's for sure, it proves that medieval sword smiths often produced weapons that are "off the beaten path" as it were. Do you suppose it is some sort of early "riding sword"? Or could it be a very precocious hunting sword? Or an aberrant falchion? (Don't mind me, just pondering the unusual qualities of this sword.)

Neat sword! Great job!

Stay safe!

Eric,

You are absolutely, positively an evil man. :p That is a beautiful sword and there is absolutely no way I am going to be able to afford it. I'm very jealous of whoever gets their hands on it.

I found a very cute 14th Century short sword while I was in Germany. It was about the same size, but was of normal Type XV design. I'm not sure what it is, but I really like the looks of these smaller swords.

-Grey

Oh my............................. :D

Hello all!

Eric McHugh wrote:

I think it is a 15th century weapon...no support just a feeling.

Eric,
You may be right about the date. Something looked familiar about the cross, and then I remembered that the decorative engraving in the centre of the cross looks roughly similar to that on the cross of the large-bladed type XVIII that Oakeshott showed as type XVIII. 10 in Records of the Medieval Sword. The cross on the sword in Records is a bit more elegant, with knobbed and notched ends, but it shows the same three groups of "lines" in roughly the same pattern. Oakeshott dated that sword as circa 1400-1450. (I'm also very familiar with MRL's replica of that sword, called the "Patay"; it's on the wall to my right as I type this. It's not nearly as nice as the original, of course, but it was one of their better jobs, appearance-wise anyway.)

I've also read that "cusped" ecussons are more typical of the fifteenth century, but there are plenty of earlier examples that proves this wrong. However, Oakeshott did describe a similar decorative style that this sword displays in The Sword in the Age of Chivalry. He stated that crosses with lines "girdling" the ends of the cross became popular around circa 1225 and again in the 15th century. He said that, on 15th century examples, the lines often formed chevrons and often accompanied a group of radiating lines similarly engraved on the ecusson. This design element (the groups of lines on the ecusson) was mostly found by itself on those crosses with cusped ecussons. Agin, this could point toward a 15th century date for the original.

If it is 15th century, then it can certainly be classed as a "riding sword". Of course, shorter swords were sometimes preferred by warriors throughout the medieval period. (For example: Oakeshott's X. 12, with a 26" blade, and X. 14, with a 23" blade, both from Records.)

Yeah, European Swords and Daggers in the Tower of London is out of print, but occasionally available used. It's one I don't have, and unfortunately can't justify the cost to purchase it when it does come up for sale! Some of these more in-depth sources are priced almost as much as a decent sword!

Thanks for the information! I hope I didn't just babble on about it!

Stay safe!

Eric, if I still didn't have to pick out NG number six. . .

Not only very nice as usual, but I am very happy to see that it is a little sword. Classic war swords get a lot of press (justifiably; they are popular and by way of that profitable to make), but I have consistently been drawn to the smaller "carry about town" kind of weapons. Interesting example to take as inspiration. :cool:

Hi Eric
Just to be a pest, where is the point of balance, and do you have any pictures looking along the back of the blade?
Regards
Geoff Wood

Hi all, this item is no longer available.

I will get more pictures when I'm finished with the scabbard next week.

I have an issue with this sword. Yes it is really great looking and finely constructed to be sure, but why make it pattern welded when this is not historical? I think it would be all the better if it was comprised of monosteel.

I guess this is just something to think about.
Jeremy

Eric, do you recall any info on the buckler that is with the sword in Leeds?

Very nice!

Yes Eric, I see your point,

My own preferences aside this seems to be a fantastic weapon! I have come to admire your axes though I would prefer that they not be browned for the same reasons that If I were to commission a similar sword as the subject of this thread I would go for monosteel.

Thanks for indulging my little grip,

Jeremy[/i]

Eric-

Great job! I just recently got the Tower book you mentioned and was intrigued by this sword. I had no idea it was single edged! Very, very cool! Thanks for posting the picture of the original as well, it's alwasy nice to see the artist's process as well as results.

That looks like a beautiful sword, Eric. While the pattern welding may not be historically correct for that particular period, the work looks gorgeous and flawless from the photos. I look forward to seeing the sword with scabbard when you have it completed.