Continuing my inquiry of an English Archer's kit from around 1400-1450...

What type of sword would have been carried?
A single-edged falchion or a double edged short arming sword?

Any recommendations on makers for an appropriate sword or falchion?

never mind

Any one-handed sword. A Venetian ambassador to England described the swords of English archers being long and broad (not short!), but the majority of English, Flemish and French art shows English archers with regular long arming swords of the same types as men at arms. See the Castillon hoard of swords - statistically it is quite likely that some of those swords belonged to English archers.
There was no 'archers sword' as far as all the historical evidence in England shows - they simply used arming swords and usually bucklers. Not to say that they didn't sometimes use falchions (of the 15th century hanger type - quite narrow and sometimes with a knucklebow), but arming swords seem to have been predominant by far.
Matt

What Oakeshott pattern should I look for?

Would a type XII or Type XIV work?

Any and all types that were popular in that period for arming swords - most commonly Type XV and XVIII I'd say. As I said, search for the Castillon swords:
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=25962

From an English lower-middle class perspective I think the wheel-pommelled types were probably more common and this is supported by the historical artwork.

Pretty much anything you want. Totally depends on where, how and how much it cost to get your weapon. Needs to fit the purpose so i would be going for something stout, not too long and fits you and your hand. Ignore anything labelled as an 'archers sword' online, that's just modern marketing guff.

Are you after a sharp or a blunt?
For a blunt I'd be inclined to go to Heron armoury for a relatively cheap but hard wearing sword, however I regularly carry one of their sharp arming swords (with wheel pommel) and I have to say it's the nicest sword I've handled. Something like that would suit your purposes well.
All the swords my group regularly uses come from there and they've survived a lot.

Looking for a sharp blade.

Can anyone else attest to Heron Armoury's quality?
Their price seems very reasonably for an Arming Sword.
What Oakeshott type is Heron's arming sword?

Also looking at the Albion Poitiers and Kingmaker. (The latter may be out of my budget, but I like the Type XVIII)
Thoughts on those?

(This would also be my first sword purchase. My background is in archery, so there's a lot to learn)

There is an A&A type XVI arming sword in the marketplace that would fit your needs well I think.
http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=32013

I suppose what no-one has asked is what you want this sword for? Just to complete the image? To have as a real, sharp weapon? To have a semi blunt that you can spar a bit with but not full on re-enactment combat or....

All the sword makers discussed have pro's and con's in those areas.

Heron Armoury swords, at least the standard models, are pretty unhistorical of course (fullers that don't go into the tang, leather washer grips etc). I also find them butt ugly, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

For a sharp, I would recommend going to a maker who actually knows how to make decent sharp swords, rather than sharpening a blunt reenactment sword - you can't go wrong with Albion, though there are now quite a few Czech and Polish makers who can make swords just as well, but for less money than Albion.

IMHO a re-enactment sword isn't a sword, its a tool for a hobby/non-historical job. That's why I couched my words about Tim's work in the way i did. I've been a full time sword user for 30 years and for 20 of them my main single handed medieval one has been a Heron over my 20 or so AA ones every time. All the horrible features you mention ([plus a few others) are there but its outlasted everything and is a reliable, dependable working tool.

I don't care for Albion (shock horror!) unless they have been worked on a bit, i find them lifeless and over engineered but there again that's the processes that create them for the modern market. I can see why many like them of course and have a couple myself. For an up market sharp bit of steel they certainly work.

Horses for course and as you say there are many bespoke makers who will make you a lively, exquisite weapon that performs like an original, just depends on your budget and needs. For my 15th cent archer kit I have a lovely falchion by St George Armoury but you can shave a particularly butch Rhino with it and its not something to be trifled with in a re-enactment environment.

The sword would just go with my archery kit, eventually learning how to properly use it.
There aren't any clubs/groups in my area to my knowledge, so I wouldn't be sparring or anything like that.

I would like something that handles as the specific sword would have when it was originally designed.
I feel that if made correctly, it helps connect with the history behind the object.

The best example I can think of is the Fairbairn-Sykes knife:
There are plenty of knock-offs and cheap F-S available, but they all feel wrong.
When holding a Parkinson or Macdonald F-S, it just makes sense and then I can understand in context how it would have been used "back in the day." (If this makes sense....)

Also, my first choice would be a sword-maker in the US as payment would be easier, but it's not mandatory.

I imagine that there were a number of 15th century archers who used this style of sword - DT5159 made by Del Tin. Unfortunately not in stock for the moment at Kult of Athena. circa 1450

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DT5159

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DT5159

thought I'd mention that Mark does a great version of this here:

[url]http://www.stgeorgearmoury.co.uk/5122.html [/url]

scroll down a bit. Mark is an excellent cutler, his blades have a great feel and are very useful. He's very much a bespoke maker, doesn't do stock patterns.