In July of 2007 I was contacted by CAS/Hanwei to collaborate on a new Medieval Longsword for their line of production swords! The prototype has been delivered and approved for construction, and this product may be available as early Febuary 2008. This project has now been expanded to include several other swords including a bastardsword and an early medieval single-hand sword. Other swords are also nder discussion.
This sword is to be produced with both sharp and blunt blades, which are engineered to handle as identically as possible so that you can practice with a blade that feels just like the sword that you do cutting excecises with. Here are official photographs and specifications of the Longsword prototype:
Photographs by Blake Pogue
Prototype Specifications:
Stats for the 'Sharp-'
Oakeshott Type: XVIIIa
OAL: 47-1/4inches
Blade Length: 35-1/4 inches
Blade Width @ Base: 2-1/8 inches
Blade Width 3-1/2 inches from point: 3/4 inch
Blade thickness at base: .254 inches
Blade thickness 2 inches from tip: .090
Distal taper is convex
Hilt OAL: 12 inches
Pommel Type: T-1
Guard Type: 2
Sword Family: n/a
COG: 3-1/2 inches from Base of blade
COP: 21-1/2 inches from base of blade
Weight: 2lb.15oz.
Stats for the 'blunt-'
Oakeshott Type: n/a
OAL: 47-1/4inches
Blade Length: 35-1/4 inches
Blade Width @ Base: 2-1/4 inches
Blade Width 3-1/2 inches from point: 5/8 inch
Blade thickness at base: .26 inches*
Blade thickness 2 inches from tip: .073
Distal taper is convex
Hilt OAL: 12 inches
Pommel Type: T-1
Guard Type: 2
Sword Family: n/a
COG: 3-1/2 inches from Base of blade
COP: 21 inches from base of blade
Weight: 2lb.15oz.
Production blades will feature dismountable construction using a recessed sleeve-type Allen nut so that they can be easily repaired and maintained. Blades will be made from 5160 spring steel that is hardened by the 'Marquenching' process and tempered to HRc50. Handles will be hardwood-cored, cord-wrapped and covered in leather. Fittings will be cast mild steel. Sharp swords will be fitted with a scabbard; the plan at this time is for blunts to be available with a soft carrying case. Retail prices have not been established at this time, but should be little more than current comparable offerings from CAS/Hanwei.
Production prototypes from Hanwei:
UPDATE: The Production Prototypes Have been approved and are currently going into production. Examples should be arriving in MAY 2008! Contact CAS to advance-order
CAS/Hanwei Bastardsword Prototype
Stats are for the 'sharp' version with the stats for the 'blunt' following in parenthesis.
Oakeshott Type: XVIIIa (n/a)
OAL: 42-3/4 inches (same)
Blade Length: 33-5/16 inches (same)
Blade Width @ Base: 1-9/16 inches (1--5/8 inches)
Blade Width 1 inch from point: 5/16 inch (9-16 inches)
Blade thickness at base: .240 inches (.245 inches)
Blade thickness 2 inches from tip: .65 inches (.82 inches)
Distal taper is convex (straight)
Hilt OAL: 9-3/8 inches
Pommel Type: H
Guard Type: 1 (m)
COG: 3-5/8 inches from base of blade (same)
Blade Node/COP: 20 inches from base of blade (21 inches from base of blade)
Primary Hilt Node: On handle approx 1 inch from cross*
*(sword displays Complex Variable Harmonics)
Weight: 2lb12oz.
Like the bastardsword above this sword is designed so that both the sharp and blunt versions will perform identically in the hand, allowing people to practice with a swword that feels and responds exactly like the 'sharp' that they do cutting with. Particulars are much like the longsword- marquenched 5160 spring steel blades, dismountable hilt, cord-wrapped leather covered sandwich type hilt etc.
Early Medieval Sword Prototype
Here is the new Early Medieval Sword Prototype for CAS/H. This is the hand-made prototype by me. Very lively sword with either blade. The blunt uses a broad, flat fuller to move mass towards the edges allowing a 1.5mm rounded edge. At this time it is believed that these swords will cost somewhere around $275-325 USD and will be provided with a wood-core leather covered scabbard with a metal locket and chape. If enough people email CAS/H indicating an interest in having peened-tang period style construction a version might be produced with that feature. These still need to be approved and have production prototypes made for my approval so it is likely to be several months before these become available.
Specs- Sharp (blunt)
Oakeshott Type: XII (n/a)
OAL: 38-1/2 inches (38-1/8")
Blade Length: 31-3/4 inches (31-3/8")
Blade Width @ Base: 2-3/16 inches (same)
Blade Width 3 inch from point: 1 inch (13/16")
Blade thickness at base: .250 inch (same)
Blade thickness 1 inch from tip: 3/64 inch (1/16")
Distal taper is Complex (Straight)
Hilt OAL: 6-7/8 inches (same)
COG: 4 inches from base of blade (4-1/8")
BNoV (Blade Node of Vibration): 21-1/2 inches from base of blade (22")
Primary Hilt Node: On handle at cross* (same)
*(Impossible to establish with certainty- sword displays Complex Variable Harmonics)
Weight: 2lb8oz. (same)
NEW! Viking Sword Prototype
Here's a first look at my hand-made prototype for the 'sharp' version of the CAS/Hanwei Viking Sword.
Oakeshott Type: X
Peterson's Type: E
OAL: 37-3/8 inches
Blade Length: 30-7/8 inches
Blade Width @ Base: 2-3/16 inches
Blade Width 5 inches from point: 1-1/2 inches
Blade thickness at base: .200 inch
Blade thickness 1 inch from tip: .085 inch
Distal taper is Straight
Hilt OAL: 6-1/2 inches
Handle length: 4 inches
COG: 4-3/4 inches from base of blade
Blade Node: 20-1/4 inches from base of blade
Primary Hilt Node: On handle approx 1/2 inch from cross
Weight: 2lb 8oz.
This sword was inspired by historical examples from the early 9th C. but was not copied from any specific sword. Furniture is mild steel with a twisted brass wire insert. The pommel is constructed in two pieces- I do not know if Hanwei will use one or two-piece construction for the pommel. This sword's pommel is secured by an Allen nut to facilitate disassembly so that it may be copied, but at this time the plan is for production versions of this sword to have a peened-tang construction. The handle is sandwiched wood wrapped in leather.
Just like the 'Sharp' the 'Blunt' will be assembled with the tang peened over the pommel.
In other swords in this series the blunt has been made to weigh and handle as much like the 'sharp' version as possible, with appearance running a distant second to the desired performance. With this Viking sword I've departed from that theme for the blunt; in this case the blunt was designed primarily to meet the 'safety' requirements of re-enactment groups that we believe will be the primary market for the blunt version of this sword.
These requirements call for a 2mm rounded edge, a very rounded point and the best 'historical appearance' obtainable within these limits while still remaining in the weight and balance range for period swords of this type. As such the 'blunt' prototype is a full two ounces heavier- the only way to meet the design requirements without increasing weight was to shorten the blade to an unacceptable degree but at 2lbs10oz the sword is still well within the historic range. The other alteration was a change in the balance of the sword- the COG has been moved from 4-1/2 inches to 5-1/2 inches- less 'handy' but still well within the historic range. Careful distribution of the mass of the blade has allowed these changes without interfering with the Node Location, so even this altered version won't transmit unpleasant shocks to the user's hand.
I had to ship this right off, so I wasn't able to get precise dimensions for the 'blunt' blade, but the photo above gives a pretty clear idea of what it would look like mounted.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
To see more of CAS/Hawei's products click HERE
For updates on their Tinker Pearce line of swords click HERE