[Tormod Engvig]

So, I just wanted to see if anyone had any input on the following:

I was perusing Albion Europe's website today (which is much nicer than their American home page btw) and there is a noticeable discrepancy in the "timeline" noted between the Next. Gen. Mercenary and the Squire Line "Late 15th C." Bastard sword. According to the site, the Mercenary spans a time from 1350 to 1420/1450, while the Squire Line version of the same sword spans a time from 1430 to 1470. Hmmm...

My intent is not to point out an error, but rather to ask anyone who might know; which of the timelines noted is the more accurate one? I know type XVs were in use from ca. 1350 to 1550 as per the spotlight on the topic, but does anyone know where the Merc/Squire Line Bastard might fall in this timeframe? Which, if any, of the noted timelines for either sword on the Albion Europe site is the "correct" one?

I own a Mercenary, and might be interested in mating it with a kit one of these days. It would be good to know what specific time period to focus on

Cheers!

Tormod

[R. Connors]

They are the same sword, excepting that the squire line 15th C. Bastard has no edge, a cheaper grip, and a lesser finish. Same sword I believe.

The timelines are not set in stone for anything this old.

http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spotxv.html

As usual...myArmoury has it covered.

[Tormod Engvig]

Anyone else have anything they'd like to add to this little timeline conundrum?

[Neil Langley]

Well, the blade and pommel pretty much work for the whole of the time lines given for both swords. However, I would say the scent-stopper pommel gained in popularity during the second half of the 1300's whilst the type 6 cross was getting rather dated by the mid 1400's. based on this I would go with the timeline for the Mercenary, although given the utility of the design I see no reason why some of these swords would not be knocking about in 1470. Maybe it is better to say that neither timeline is wrong but that this sword is more representitive of a turn of the 14th/15th century weapon.

Neil.

[Tormod Engvig]

[Peter Johnsson]

Tormod,

Going from the description of the persona I would not recommend the Mercenary as your first option.

You will see quite some difference in swords used in the 1360 to those in vogue in the later years of the Union Wars.

For the earlier time period I would recommend swords like Crecy, Duke, Vassal, Sempach, Landgraf, Squire, Steward or Poitiers. As first choices I would go for Duke, Steward or Sempach. If you need a single hander I would go for Squire or Poitiers.

For the later years of the 15th C your choices are: Dane, Soldat, Knecht, any of the long XVa´s, Burgundian (possibly), Kingmaker (possibly).
Looking at swords for this later period in Scandinavia, large swords seems to be more common than single handers. For shorter side arms it is my impressions that they used large daggers or messer type of weapons. If you need a single hander, I would go for any sword that was popular in northern europe. Kingmaker or Burgundian could be reasonable choices.
The Dane is otherwise your obvious candidate.

It is absolutely possible to imagine an older type of sword still in use. Even a sword of thin and broad section, like the Tritonia or a sword like the Lancaster or even the Hospitaller (as an old handed down sword, given you provide it with some patina from use)
It depends much on what kind of soldier you would want to portray. The more professional, the more up to date equipment. If it is some land owning man with duties to enlist for military service, you can well mix new equipment with the odd detail that is older. A modern kettle hat, with a 30 year old kastenbrust breast plate, a big old dagger or messer, plus the Dane and a pole arm like a staff sword, would be a credible image of a Swedish fighter. Add large stave built water flask, sleeping roll and wide trousers and you have the spitting image!

[Tormod Engvig]