I didn't see a weight listed for the Novara when I looked online a few minutes ago. The text for that piece does, however, end with a pound sign (#) and a number beginning with 5. Could there be a misread somewhere along the line? I just don't see how that piece could weigh that much unless the furniture is lead or the dimensions are truly ridiculous.

50.5"! That's a beast alright, but I'm still betting that their weight is high. I've found that it often is with MRL items, either because it's based on shipping or includes the scabbard.

As for the "Viking Helbard", as far as I know there have been no finds a weapon of this type. The Atgeir is mentioned a number of times, but no one knows what it looked like. The word Kesje is also used to describe a hewing spear. Wether this is a different weapon, or just a dialectic difference is not known.

There have been found very broad spearheads, that could conceivably be mounted on a stout shaft and used for swings as well as stabs.
Flateyarbok(1394) mentions a man that had a Atgeir under his belt. This would indicate that some of them where no longer than a long shafted axe.Possibly, the short shafted Atgeir would look something like a Zulu Assegai, with a short shaft, and broad head. If so, I imagine they where used more like axes with stabbing potential than spears.
Other sources describe them as full length spears.


A third kind is the Bryntvari, or Mail Piercer, wich is broad bladed at the base, but narrows down to a armour piercing spike.

In the 13th century, "Snaghyrnd øx", or "sharp cornered axe" is used to describe a bardiche style medevial axe.
In the 14th cent, we hear of "Taparøx" probably derived from Tapar, old slavic for axe, a one handed version of the same.

i always worry about mrl stuff anymore. theres only so many ways to polish a terd. ehhehe ;)

Fifty inches is a lot of sword, but even so I think 5 pounds is a little weighty for that. I think it's good that some of MRL's new stuff is geared more towards history than fantasy/sci-fi.

sad thing is edward thats the way they USED to be. ug :( makes me sad hehee

The catalog states that some of the new models (Novara, Venetian) after images in armi bianchi italiane and the Auray is models after a soword in the Philadelphia Fine Art Museum.
Can somebody post images of the originals?

Thomas

Basis for MRL's "Novara" sword

[ Linked Image ]
Click photo for full-sized version

Venice, circa 1570
Overall length: 58.25", Cross-guard width: 13.125"
Blade length: 45.25", Blade width: 2", Weight: 5.5 pounds



Copyright Armi Bianche Italiane, BOCCIA, Lionello G. ; COELHO, Eduardo T

Basis for MRL's "Venetian" sword

[ Linked Image ]
Click photo for full-sized version

Circa 1520
Overall length: 40.25", Cross-guard width: 6"
Blade length: 33.375", Blade width: 1.9", Weight: 2.65 pounds



Copyright Armi Bianche Italiane, BOCCIA, Lionello G. ; COELHO, Eduardo T

Looking through our own myArmoury.com photo albums, I found this photo from the Philadelphia Museum of Art that seems to be the original sword on which MRL based their "Auray" model:

[ Linked Image ]
Click photo for full-sized version

Notice the weight on the original that inspired the Novara. Maybe MRL isn't too far off after all.

I'm not a big XV fan, but I am attracted to that Sword of Auray. Must resist - made a vow - no more MRL's. It is inexpensive though.

Strange that the text for this item is incomplete on the MRL website. The tenuous historical tie-in stops at the beginning of a sentence, and there is nothing about the sword itself. I guess the catalogue is more complete and includes some specs.

They have two nice new flanged maces as well:

http://www.mwart.com/xq/ASP/pid.2779/qx/productlg.htm

I wonder if this means they'll discontinue their old gothic mace. I'd love to pick up one of those for $50.

Check out Reliks for some good close-ups of the Novara. Interesting to note how closely the guard fits the blade. Looks far better than the standard Windlass "generic rectangular guard cutout". :)
http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=2243

Gotta admit I'm tempted. 5 lbs is a lot but it might be nice as a strength-building practice sword. Any other excuse is probably equally valid. :D

The markings on the blade look like they may be put there with the same process Windlass uses for their INDIA blade mark. I think anyone purchasing this sword might want to think twice about removing the hard varnish from the blade since this removes the makers mark. You may also remove the decoration in the process.

I like the design but too bad the furniture is brass.