Hi Peter,

I have been wondering about the historical inspiration of the NG Templar. I really love my Templar but I am not as sure as to it's historical origins as I am of my other Albion's. To me the chamferred wheel pommel and type 5 cross seem to be from the early to mid 13th. century while the type Xa blade seems more typical of the early to mid 12th. century. Did you intend this to be an example of an earlier blade mounted on a later hilt, or am I missing something? In any case I really love the long and less tapering blade and especially the deep fuller.

Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!
Jeremy

I also had a question about the Templar's pommel. On Albion's site it's listed as a type H and in the concept drawing it appears as such...but on the production model it certainly appears to be a type I (and is listed as such in Chad Arnow's review). Did the type change between the drawing and hilt-wax carving and was never updated on the site or is there some reason for classifying it a H ?
Thanks,
Dan

For reference, here are line drawings of the two pommel types, from our Ewart Oakeshott article:

Type H:
[ Linked Image ]

Type I:
[ Linked Image ]

The Templar's pommel:
[ Linked Image ]

Thanks for posting that Chad, it illustrates my point....why call it a type H on Albion's site?
Dan

Pronounced peening block maybe? Seems the I, atleast in the line drawing has one...

Hey guys!

Good to see posts on a sword that was introduced quite some time ago! The Templar was one of the first Next Generation swords added to the line.

Jeremy, I think we have discussed the dating of the Templar before, have we not?

It is not the most typical set up, that is true, but I don´t think it is a haphazard anacronism. Dating of swords is often not an exact science.
Gently flaring bow tie guards can occasinally be found on swords dating to the 12th C, or perhaps even earlier.
Type I pommels (yes, right you are: this is a type I not a type H: thanks for pointing out this mistake!) can also be found early on. Some of the Finnish finds that Dr J Leppäaho has published have chamfered disc pommels that are straddling type H and type I. The dating of these swords is a bit uncertain; they could belong to the 11th C or perhaps the 12th C. The publication I have is not entirely clear on this point.

I have once seen one sword with just this combination of blade, pommel and guard that the Templar has, published in a popular book on medieval arms and armour (This sword was in the back of my mind when I made the final design of the Templar). I am sorry, but I cannot for my life remember just wich one right now. I have been looking through my reference books, but been frustrated with no reward in my search! I promise to return with the title of the book when I find it.
As to the dating of this precise sword, I cannot say. It was the kind of book you would not rely comfortably on the dating of the objects.

To my mind the Templar could be placed in the 12th C, even if it is not one of the most common combinations of its time.
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I could be out on this one, but to me, the Templar feels like it would definitely be post 1175 in the 12th c.

The type Xa was still in use in the 13th C., although being replaced by later blade styles. I would be quite comfortable with this sword for an early 13th C. persona...

Thanks Peter for your reply,

I know I posed the question of dating of this sword before but I wanted to go a bit further into your creative thought process and I thank you for indulging me.

So 12th. century it is- I agree with others that it looks to be an early 13th. c. example but I will follow the thinking of Peter. I would actually prefer that this sword be more contemporary to the 12th. c. as it fits better with my collection.

Thanks again Peter- no more pestering about this sword- I swear! ;)

Jeremy