Help identifying an old reproduction Medici Falchion -- myArmoury.com

Jack Sutter

I recently picked up this sword on ebay, with the idea of using it as a base for a DIY project. It seems to be a reproduction of the Medici Falchion, albeit with decidedly inaccurate hilt furniture. The blade itself though is actually quite nice (although in dire need of re-profiling as it turns out). Would anyone have any idea who made this sword? Pictures are below.

http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/Jack_Ironha...=3&o=2

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

wow. That's interesting. I wonder if that's a very, very early Arms & Armor prototype. The blade sure looks like it.

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Sat 20 May, 2017 2:54 pm Post subject:

I've seen these before (possibly the very same sword, but I don't think so). Maybe 1970s or 1980s or so? An older replica, anyway.

Weighs somewhere between 4.5 and 5lbs?

Mark Moore · Posted: Sat 20 May, 2017 3:09 pm Post subject:

I was thinking the same thing, Timo. Something about it brings out a way-old memory in me, but I just *can't quite* put my finger on it. Didn't MRL/Windlass put one out very similar to this way back in the day? Maybe that's what's got what is left of my neurons firing. Laughing Out Loud

.....McM

Raymond Deancona · Posted: Sun 21 May, 2017 5:41 am Post subject:

80's early 90's Indian or Pakistani for the Renn fair and flea market trade. Back in the day they sold for about 50 bucks. Sometimes heat treated, sometimes not.

Mark Moore · Posted: Sun 21 May, 2017 6:02 am Post subject:

Raymond, as bad as I hate to think it....I believe you are correct. Most of those 'flea-market specials', as I call them, usually had 'india' or 'pakistan' stamped into the blade somewhere though. It could have been carefully removed. The truth will be known in a take-down of the hilt. Skinny, welded-on rat-tail tang....you know. Blehhh... Worried

Jack, I hope you didn't spend a lot on it. Worried

......McM

Jack Sutter · Posted: Sun 21 May, 2017 11:21 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, early Arms and Armor was my thought as well, based on the blade shape (perhaps an email to Craig would be in order to settle the matter). It weighs in at almost 5 lbs exactly, however half of that is in the over-bulky hilt fittings. After disassembly the weight goes down to about 2.5 lbs. I then weighed it again along with a steel guard and pommel and got about 3.4 lbs, which puts it very close to the weight quoted on the A&A page for their current Medici falcion.

After disassembly I could find no marks whatsoever on the blade, and no indication that something had be ground out. The tang is actually pretty solid, a single piece with no welds. In size and shape it's roughly comparable to that of a Hanwei Tinker, but although rough from forge with visible hammer marks (pic below).

http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/Jack_Ironha...=3&o=0

I think it's been heat treated, although it's so thick and stiff it's hard to tell for sure. However, it doesn't bend or take a set the way a pre-heat treated Albion does.

Hadrian Coffin · Industry Professional

It looks like something from the period when A&A used to make the pieces for Museum Replicas --when A&A and MRL stopped their partnership, there were a lot of weird 'rip off' copies like this being made. I am wondering if this is one of those?

The forged tang looks full, and unlike any normal Indian/Pakistani blade. The threaded end is consistent with early A&A pieces.

Very interesting!

-Hadrian