Introducing... The Oakeshott -- myArmoury.com

Howard Waddell · Industry Professional

I have already added myself to the end of the line for this sword... Those folks with this sword already on order were lucky that everyone around here was able to restrain me from claiming the first one...

You can tell that this is a sword made for both mounted and foot combat - nice long reach but lightning fast. I like it...

Plus, the hollowgrinding is very visually appealing...

More here:

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...ott-xa.htm

and here:

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...photos.htm

(Better photos will follow when the weather improves...)

Best,

Howy

Joel Chesser · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Oh my God, I think I'm in love!

David Sutton · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

I've been waiting a while to see this one and what a beauty she is! Cool

Edward Hitchens · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

That is magnificant! I was very anxious to see how this one would turn out and I can see it was worth the wait.

Splendid! Absolutely splendid!

Dan P · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

Does that blade flare a bit at the shoulders, right before the hilt, or is that just an optical illusion?
Either way, very nice lines!

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

Yes, it does flare a bit at the shoulders - no illusion.

It's been a long time since I've been totally surprised when picking up a new blade. This guy feels sweet.

Mikko Kuusirati · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

That blade is pretty wicked. Far more complex than is apparent at first glance...

Anders Backlund · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

Seems to be a nice enough piece of work, though I personally don't really like these long Crusade-era swords.

Richard Gessman · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

I'd have to agree with everyone else here, that sword is beautiful. And you're right, the hollow grind really adds to the aesthetic appeal of the blade.

Paul Watson · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

Awesome sword, the close up photo of the point really shows the intricacy of the hollow ground blade transitioning in shape. I did not realise that Xa's were also hollow ground as well as being simple lenticular blades. I was under the mistaken impression that hollow grinding was a much later development. A very light sword for it's size, comparable to the XIX's.

Tim Lison · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject:

Hurray! I have been excited to see how this one would turn out. What a great looking sword. I may need to get this one....

Addison C. de Lisle · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

Wow, the blade geometry on that one is beautiful. Now I can't wait for the Chevalier!

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

Very nice as " usual ": Hard to find an Albion sword that doesn't surpass expectations from the design stage to execution. Big Grin

Jody A · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Wed 30 Jan, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

Awesome indeed. Any word on a custom scabbard for this one, like the Knight has?

M.

Taylor Ellis · Posted: Thu 31 Jan, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

For Howy or anyone else that has handled this sword, how does the changing blade geometry effect the sword handling? It looks like a fairly stiff sword, particularly for this era?

cheers fellas. Happy

Jeremiah Swanger · Posted: Thu 31 Jan, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Introducing... The Oakeshott

Peter Cowan · Posted: Thu 31 Jan, 2008 12:48 am Post subject: Re: the oakeshott

Well there goes buying groceries for the next two months. I knew this sword would catch my eye. After all look at it was modeled from, one of the most beautiful swords ever made( in my very humble opinion). Howy, you've done it again. This sword is definitely on my list. The hollow-grind looks stunning. Congratulations on another winner.

Peter Johnsson · Industry Professional

Thank you all for comments and question.

To me this sword is important for several reasons.
It is one of those I have had my eyes on for longer than I have been making swords. To me it is one of the central ones for the appreciation of the medieval european sword, simply because it is so unique.
If I had to pick ten or five swords among surviving medieval swords, this one would be among them, I think.

Last year I was generously given permission to document the original at the Wallace collection.
By this time I had already submitted the design for the blade to Albion and received the first prototype blade. It was a small hang-up with the CNC machine (producing a minute kink in the outline) that took long in correcting that delayed the completion of the sword. Otherwise this sword would have reached the market more than a year ago.

At this occasion I was in London to participate in the Arms and Armour conference organized by the Armour Research Society at the Wallace collection. For my talk I brought along to blades to demonstrate the effects in dynamic balance when mounting hilts of various weights. The blades were of the Munich long sword and the A 459 (Xa.1 in Oakeshott´s "Records").
I was very curious to see how close I got to the original with my prototype. My design was based on memories and notes taken during several visits the the Wallace Collection over the years and what general information I had dug up from the internet. These observations and data were then the basis for applying principles of a design structure following the golden section as seen in other swords with some basic likeness to this one. Perhaps you can visualize a grid of sorts where proportions relate to each other according to the Golden Section: a method that I have found very useful in analyzing and reconstructing or designing swords.
With the original in hand I could document those important dynamic properties (such as placing of forward and aft pivot points as well as the vibration nodes) that until then had not been noted from this sword.

The Albion blade is within a millimeter from the museum sword in a few places and otherwise the difference is within fractions of a millimeter.
When the Albion blade is balanced to provide the same placing of pivot points, nodes and balance point as the museum sword has, the results is a weapon some 15 grams lighter than the original.
This weight difference and the fact that the fullers are not flat in the bottom (as on the museum sword) but shaped in a true radius are the two major reasons it does not qualify to be a Museum Line sword.
Difference between the two swords is very small. It is well within the difference you would find between two swords made to the same pattern and design by the same maker fulfilling an order in the 13th C.

The cross section is unusual. I know of no other sword that has a similar blade. I am not convinced, like Oakeshott, that it could be dated as early as the 11th. Rather I would think it belongs to 13th or early 14th C. But who can really tell?

It is an enigmatic sword and would probably benefit from further study. Some aspects really made me curious to know more of its history in past and more recent times.

The hollow grinding is unique for a sword of this type and from this period. It allows a combination of a relatively thick spine, healthy width and finely defined edges. The edges are not so thin that they are fragile, you have just removed "dead meat" in the area between the actual cutting sharpness and the spine.

To describe its heft and character is difficult as you would have to compare it to swords you know. It is fairly stiff given its weight and length, but it is a flexible and dynamic blade. It is lively in the hand and invites nimble and quick moves. The test cutting I made with the prototype blade proved that it has an impressive bite. I think it is one of the most aggressive single hand cutters I´ve developed for the NG line. It is easy to accelerate and control and has a pleasing presence. This is a sword whose harmonic proportions are a visual expression of its character in handling. It shares some personality with a beautiful musical instrument.

I have learned much in the study of this sword and feel grateful to its original maker/makers. Any qualities you can find in the NG line Oakeshott sword, is a tribute to these masters of a past age.

Peter Johnsson · Industry Professional