Type XV project? -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 24 Jul, 2012 7:26 am Post subject: Type XV project?

I find that having lots of sword components lying around in drawers and on shelves can actually hinder productivity. Too many options make it difficult to keep track of ideas, and not having the components out where I can see them constantly works against surprise inspirations. I'm building a cutler's rack to solve that problem.

On the other hand, all the possibilities sometimes lead to something unique. I had overlooked the following possibility until I had a flash of inspiration last night.

This is an old Albion/Jody Samson Type XV-ish moat sale blade. It's flat-edge blunt , so blade-heavy, and really needs a heavy pommel to make it viable as-is. I tried a few late 15th c. options but wasn't happy with any of them. I also had an Albion Type H pommel and a chopped Del Tin cross. I had settled on selling all of these parts separately because they didn't seem to serve any particular project. Only last night did I think to try these together, and they immediately reminded me of some well-known swords in the Museum of London.

I think this is a good direction for these parts, although I think I would prefer an old straight ATrim cross I have because that's the configuration of the MOL sword at far left in the image below. I think either cross could look appropriate here, but the lighter ATrim cross might move the POB back just a bit, which would be welcome.

I know more about 1450+ than this earlier period. What do y'all think? Do you know of any Type XV swords with this look (in addition to those in ROTMS)?

I'll try the ATrim cross and post more photos.

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Tue 24 Jul, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject:

Dear Sean,

I'm usually a fan of even earlier cutting swords with long type 1 crosses, but I love this combination! I think it works great with the type 5 cross as opposed to type 1. I hope you will pursue this project and show us the results.

It reminds me a bit in outline to this sword, even though it is not an XV: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=3074

-JD

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Tue 24 Jul, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject:

It actually looks more like a slim XVIII than a XV but there is crossover in thoughts on typologies. Also, the AT mark means it was an Angus Trim blade. Albion never marked any other blade source that way.

I like the fittings as shown now and similar to the Windlass Shrewsbury guard in a slanted eye way

My old Windlass/Del Tin has the same slim XVIII look but I have often regarded it as a XV. Tinker and I used to bicker over it a lot but the precept of a XV being that it should have no real deviation and profile taper straight from the guard to the point.. Gus would have regarded the blade as shown as an XVIII.

Cheers

GC

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 24 Jul, 2012 6:36 pm Post subject:

Good eyes! that cross is from the del tin version of the shrewsbury sword, with the ends cut off by a previous owner. duh, now I see the "t" on that maker's mark. thanks for that clarification.

yes, i'd say this blade is midway between true xv and xviii--an oft-honed xviii, perhaps. i figured i'd straighten it out a bit on the grinder since it's blunt anyway.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Tue 24 Jul, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject:

Looks like it has potential to be a very nice looking sword but I wouldn't obsess too much about it being a " tweener " between a type XV and a narrow XVIII as I like the subtle curve of the blade as it is now. ( But what matters is if it pleases your eye not mine ).

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 25 Jul, 2012 7:22 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 11 Oct, 2012 12:01 pm Post subject:

This has moved back onto my bench for completion.

I've taken a bit of blade to extend the tang and improve the balance. This is a 42" blunt, so it really needs that extra help. As shown here, the COG is 4.25" below the cross, which I think is fair match to a blade that clearly would be strongest as a thrusting weapon. I wasn't thinking about hilt/blade proportions as much as this stage, but was pleased to find that my purely subjective alteration created a harmonious 1:4 hilt/blade proportion. Also notice that the cross is the length of the hilt. This piece seems to be building itself, which is one of the reasons I'm eager to see it finished in spite of its poor fit in my collection.

I've ground off the notched ends of the cross but haven't cleaned it up or reshaped the ends. Those will get a gentle, symmetrical sloping--not much different from what I show here, but softer.

The chappe is just salvage from an earlier project. It's not appropriate for the period of this sword (I'd say late 14th c.). I use it just to judge aesthetics. The final sword will have the "D" shape chappe common to the period. If I want to get fancy I might try a decorated metal chappe, as was sometimes done. I'm not 100 percent certain that would be right for the period, though, so I'd have to do some research on that.

Advice/comment/critique is always welcome!