myArmoury.com - Knuckle-bow Falchion

Posts: 2 Location: West Sussex, UK

Wed 12 Jun, 2013 6:36 am

Knuckle-bow Falchion

Hello,

New on here, although a long-time lurker. Thought I'd finally join up and get some questions answered. :)

I'm thinking of getting a falchion made up, but ideally I'd want one with a knuckle-bow as per the one on page 26 in Clive Bartlett's "English Longbowman 1330-1515" (Osprey 1995), which is referenced as Royal Armouries' A12/976 IX 2639. Is that one anachronistic or were knuckle-bow's a common feature?

Edit: added scan of the hilt in question.

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Michael K Wislon

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Posts: 21 Location: Santa Rosa CA

Thu 13 Jun, 2013 12:15 pm

Here are a few examples of something close to what you want by Del Tin
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

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Nathan Robinson

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Posts: 11,553 Location: San Francisco

Thu 13 Jun, 2013 12:56 pm

Michael K Wislon wrote:

Here are a few examples of something close to what you want by Del Tin
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

Only the first one would be considered a falchion and neither have the extremely unusual side knuckle-guard that I believe the topic author is finding attractive.

I believe the sword in question is discussed in British Basket-Hilted Swords: A Typology of Basket-Type Sword Hilts, by Cyril Mazansky as a means to explain the development of complex hilts.

Knuckle-guards/knuckle-bows are extremely common, but the side knuckle-guard is not. The sword in question does not have a true knuckle-guard in that the forward quillon guard simply extends to the pommel forming a knuckle-guard. I suppose the distinction is academic.

I would love to see this sword recreated.

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Michael K Wislon

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Posts: 21 Location: Santa Rosa CA

Thu 13 Jun, 2013 2:16 pm

Yeah the first one is really the only falchion, the other I pointed out becuase they had a similiar guard. I had thought about includeding the "St Michael" falchion as well.

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Roger Hooper

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Posts: 4,393 Location: Northern California

Thu 13 Jun, 2013 5:19 pm

Nathan Robinson wrote:

Only the first one would be considered a falchion and neither have the extremely unusual side knuckle-guard that I believe the topic author is finding attractive.

I believe the sword in question is discussed in British Basket-Hilted Swords: A Typology of Basket-Type Sword Hilts, by Cyril Mazansky as a means to explain the development of complex hilts.

Knuckle-guards/knuckle-bows are extremely common, but the side knuckle-guard is not. The sword in question does not have a true knuckle-guard in that the forward quillon guard simply extends to the pommel forming a knuckle-guard. I suppose the distinction is academic.

I would love to see this sword recreated.

Somebody has made a falchion with a side knuckle guard. I saw this You Tube video over at the Arma forum. I have no idea about the falchion's quality.or the identity of the man in the video.

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Gabriele Becattini

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Posts: 720

Fri 14 Jun, 2013 4:53 am

http://heronarmoury.co.uk/falchion6.htm

Heron Armoury made this version

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Leo Todeschini

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Posts: 1,725 Location: Oxford, UK

Fri 14 Jun, 2013 7:11 am

This is a lovely sword and in fact the one that made me particularly fond of falchions. I made a couple over a decade ago that were loosely based on this, but I didn't really have the skills to execute them well. The first one I made can be seen in 'The Weapons that made Britain' in the longbow episode.

Probably time for a revisit.

Tod

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Raymond Deancona

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Posts: 430

Sat 15 Jun, 2013 8:52 am

Here are some pics of a recreation I had made of the same sword. It was made about 15 years ago. The maker was Beau Hickory. I wanted a "munitions" grade piece that would not look out of place being used by an archer or footman. I need to replace the handle leather, as I have used this particular sword quite a bit! The knuckle guard is peened through the pommel and tang. It is also integral with the cross guard. I had the blade made as a heavy saber rather than a falchion. Light and fast in the hand.

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Martin Cazey

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Posts: 3 Location: United Kingdom

Fri 24 Jan, 2014 7:59 am

What date range are these knuckle guarded falchions ascribed to? I am seeing quite a few people doing late 14thC impressions and early 15th using them and I always thought they were quite a bit later than that.

Tod, I would love to see you revisit this style! :)

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