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Michael Pearce
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Location: Seattle, Wa.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004

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PostPosted: Wed 23 Dec, 2009 11:13 am    Post subject: Goliath Fechtbook 2-hander         Reply with quote



Oakeshott Type: XVIIIa
Overall Length: 60-1/2 inches
Blade Length: 44-3/4 inches
Blade width @ Base: 2-1/8 inches
Blade Width 3 inches from point: 1 inch
Blade Thickness @ Base: .270 inch
Blade Thickness 2 inches from Point: .170 inch
Hilt Overall Length: 15-3/4 inches
Length of Handle: 13-3/8 inches
Guard type: 1
Pommel Type: T5 (variant)
Center of Gravity: 4-3/4 inches from guard
Location of Blade Node (measured from Guard): 29 inches
Primary Hilt Node: approx. 1/2 inch from cross on handle
Weight: 5lbs 6 oz

Sword based on Illustrations in the Goliath Fechtbook dated to the mid-15th century. Not properly a longsword (as it would be very difficult to employ effectively with a single hand) this is a true two-handed sword. I believe that this is the second largest sword that I have made to date.

The blade is differentially tempered 5160 spring steel; approximately HRc60 at the cutting edge and drawn selectively to a hardness of approx. HRc45-48 at the spine, shoulders and tang of the blade. The sword has a flattened diamond cross section (which sadly does not show in the photos) with slightly convex bevels and the edge is a stout 'appleseed' profile. Distal taper is slightly convex. The blade is unsharpened for approx. the first 9 inches measured from the guard. The guard and pommel are fabricated from 1018 mild steel. The guard is approximately 12 inches wide. The handle is made from hardwood slabs sandwiched over the tang, then wrapped in linen cord and covered in leather with risers at either end and near the center. The hilt is secured with a counter-sunk 3/8 inch diameter cylindrical Allen nut and the hilt may be dismounted for cleaning or repair.

I executed several passes from both the German and Italian longsword traditions and the sword is quite lively- with the caveat that it is vital to power from the core and use proper footwork to move the sword.

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Bartek Strojek




Location: Poland
Joined: 05 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: Wed 23 Dec, 2009 11:31 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Impressive!

It would be great to see this big blade cutting or thrusting something.
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Michael Pearce
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Location: Seattle, Wa.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004

Posts: 365

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PostPosted: Wed 23 Dec, 2009 12:06 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Bartek Strojek wrote:
Impressive!

It would be great to see this big blade cutting or thrusting something.


Hopefully we can talk it's new owner into doing exactly that!

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Michal Plezia
Industry Professional



PostPosted: Wed 23 Dec, 2009 1:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nice weapon Happy
www.elchon.com

Polish Guild of Knifemakers

The sword is a weapon for killing, the art of the sword is the art of killing. No matter what fancy words you use or what titles you put to
it that is the only truth.
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Nat Lamb




Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
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Posts: 385

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PostPosted: Wed 23 Dec, 2009 3:08 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I actually felt my heart flutter when I looked at that first pic, something about the line of the blade just made me say "THAT is what a large longsword should be"
Beautiful, gorgeous sword
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Jean Thibodeau




PostPosted: Thu 24 Dec, 2009 10:17 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Tinker: Impressive work, I imagine that heat treating must be a challenge to get it right.

In handling it might compare to my A & A 15th century two hander which is to a similar scale in weight and size.

Is this one already sold and spoken for ? I notice I didn't see it on your site on the " availables " page ? Well I sort of hope it is currently helping your cash flow by already having an owner who has or will soon be paying for it ? The economy might start getting better next year.

Hopefully something I can't resist on your availables page " Items For Sale " will coincide next year with my available cash. Big Grin

Still very happy with my purchase of your Type XVII earlier this year. Big Grin Cool

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Michael Pearce
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Location: Seattle, Wa.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004

Posts: 365

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PostPosted: Sun 27 Dec, 2009 10:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks Jean- yes, this one was made to custom order; helped our Christmas no end!
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Eric W. Norenberg





Joined: 18 Jul 2008

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PostPosted: Sun 27 Dec, 2009 9:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeez, Tinker, that thing's as big as I am...

I'd love to see a shot of that beast next to something for perspective. Makes me even itchier for when I can pony up for my big sword project. If the new owner happens to read this forum, I'll second that appeal for pics or video of the monster in action!

-Eric
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J.E. Sweeney




Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Joined: 17 Sep 2009

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PostPosted: Mon 28 Dec, 2009 11:58 am    Post subject: Where and when         Reply with quote

Where and when would this type of sword have been used? It is collossal...
- JESW
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Michael Pearce
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Location: Seattle, Wa.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004

Posts: 365

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PostPosted: Mon 28 Dec, 2009 12:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Where and when         Reply with quote

J.E. Sweeney wrote:
Where and when would this type of sword have been used? It is collossal...


The Fechtbuch is in german and dates to the mid 15th Century.

Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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Andrew Maxwell




Location: New Zealand
Joined: 03 May 2009

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PostPosted: Mon 28 Dec, 2009 12:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Where and when         Reply with quote

J.E. Sweeney wrote:
Where and when would this type of sword have been used? It is collossal...


The "Goliath" fechtbuch dates to the start of the 16th century (1510-1520) in what is now Germany. Although the text is a copy of an earlier fechtbuch (Peter von Danzig, c.1452), the illustrations are unique to the Goliath, so we can reasonably assume that they depict a weapon in usage around the early part of the 16th C.

There is a picture from the manual showing the swords in use here.
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William Carew




PostPosted: Mon 28 Dec, 2009 7:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Where and when         Reply with quote

J.E. Sweeney wrote:
Where and when would this type of sword have been used? It is collossal...


As noted, 2-handed swords of this size are depicted in the early 16th Century fechtbuch known as "Goliath" and similar sized swords were also used in Italy, Spain, Portugal and England among others.

Some historical fencing manuals appropriate for this size of sword include Goliath (German) as noted, Achille Marozzo (Italian) and Diogo Figueiredo (Portuguese). HTH.

Bill Carew
Jogo do Pau Brisbane
COLLEGIUM IN ARMIS
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Eric W. Norenberg





Joined: 18 Jul 2008

Posts: 271

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PostPosted: Mon 28 Dec, 2009 10:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Where and when         Reply with quote

William Carew wrote:

As noted, 2-handed swords of this size are depicted in the early 16th Century fechtbuch known as "Goliath" and similar sized swords were also used in Italy, Spain, Portugal and England among others.

Some historical fencing manuals appropriate for this size of sword include...


Does anyone know of any specifically English manuals or similar sources for swords like these? I'm all for the "Pan-European" concept of the longsword as a martial art, and a really big sword is going to require (or recommend) certain techniques no matter what region one is in, but the piece I'm really keen to reproduce is English in origin. Thanks all.

Eric
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David Teague




Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Joined: 25 Jan 2004

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PostPosted: Tue 29 Dec, 2009 12:09 am    Post subject: Re: Where and when         Reply with quote

Eric W. Norenberg wrote:
William Carew wrote:

As noted, 2-handed swords of this size are depicted in the early 16th Century fechtbuch known as "Goliath" and similar sized swords were also used in Italy, Spain, Portugal and England among others.

Some historical fencing manuals appropriate for this size of sword include...


Does anyone know of any specifically English manuals or similar sources for swords like these? I'm all for the "Pan-European" concept of the longsword as a martial art, and a really big sword is going to require (or recommend) certain techniques no matter what region one is in, but the piece I'm really keen to reproduce is English in origin. Thanks all.

Eric


The only know English manuals are:

Harleian MS, the Cotton Titus MS, and MS. 39564 aka the J. Ledall manuscript .

Cheers,

DT

This you shall know, that all things have length and measure.

Free Scholar/ Instructor Selohaar Fechtschule
The Historic Recrudescence Guild

"Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou's sword art is with me; Thy poleaxe and Thy quarterstaff they comfort me."
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Michael Pearce
Industry Professional



Location: Seattle, Wa.
Joined: 21 Feb 2004

Posts: 365

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PostPosted: Tue 29 Dec, 2009 8:33 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for answering that everyone- very informative!
Michael 'Tinker' Pearce
-------------
Then one night, as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph, I had an epiphany...
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