Today's update:

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Spotlight: Oakeshott Type XIII Swords
An article by Chad Arnow

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Phoenix Metal Creations Bastard Sword
A hands-on review by Bill Grandy

As always, you can see our Complete History of Updates listed right from our home page.

I love Type XIII's! This is a wonderful update Nathan. I particularly would be interested in seeing Albion make a reproduction of the type XIII you have labeled as "Type XIII.2" A gaddhjalt style hilt with a type XIII blade - awesome.

while the AT1421 is defined as Type XIIIb. (from the article)

That is from the defunct All Saints site, which also defines the AT1421 as a XIIIa. With its 7 inch grip, the one thing it is
not is a XIIIb. With its 7 inch grip, it is either a long-hilted XIII or a shortish XIIIa.

I've got an AT1421. It's a good sword. I'd like to see more XIII (not a or b) designs on the market

Sorry folks, I guess I was unclear. I meant to say that the All Saints site incorrectly defines the AT1421 as both a XIIIa and a XIIIb.

A slightly off-topic musing inspired by the Phoenix bastard sword:

Both Erik S. and E.B. Erikson do this magnificient work as a hobby! That just slays me. Here I am, just fixing to start thinking about how I might possibly try to begin some basic cutlery, and they casually create masterieces in their spare time, manipulating steel like some artists manipulate clay. I'd love to know what kind of tools they use (not only what is most convenient or ideal, but what will serve a hobbyist). Where do they get their materials? Do they use metal lathes? Do they have formal machine-shop education? Do they own their machines or rent shop time? Do they have forges, anvils, etc.? It's all a big mystery to me, but I'd love to learn how to do some of the basic cutler's work. I'm going to look into taking a metal arts course locally, but I'd love to hear these Master Hobbyists discuss hobby-specific skills, either in a forum thread or in an article.

Great update, I love the Type III, more specifficaly the subtype IIIa. I'm sucker for big slashing swords. :cool:

I absolutely love of the spotlights on the different sword types, it really helps a lot. Thankyou to everyone who as done them and keep up the awsome work. :D

Everyone,
Thanks, as always, for the kind words and feedback in general. The spotlights are fun to write, and I find myself referring to them often as I'm researching new purchases/reviews. I'm glad folks enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing the ones I've done. I'll bet the others who've written spotlights would agree. :)

I'm pretty excited abour our Oakeshott Spotlights in particular. We're near to completing the series, and when we're done I think we'll have the best Oakeshott resource on the web.