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Late Medieval One-Handed Sword Oakeshott Type XVI, incl. Scabbard
The one-hander we offer here, classified as a Type XVI sword according to Oakeshott’s typology, is a prime example of a medieval sword that would have seen service at the beginning of the Hundred Year’s War between England and France.
The type XVI was mainly characterized by a broad, fullered, approx. 70 to 80 cm long blade with a flattened diamond cross-section and a wide, flat tang. The blade steadily tapered to a sharp tip reinforced by a distinctive ridge. The fuller usually extended from the guard to half to two-thirds down the blade. Although some exceptions exist, the single-handed hilt generally featured a crossguard that slightly bent toward the blade, and a wheel pommel (with or without chamfered edges).
Type XVI swords were particularly popular in the first half of the 14th century. Their emergence and spread were coincident with the rise of plate armour, which made it necessary to rethink blade designs. As chain mail had not yet gone out of fashion, the aim was to offer versatile swords that could effectively combine both cutting and thrusting abilities and thus face armour of mixed type. While their acute point and a stiff diamond cross-section were ideal to thrust into gaps and joints or pierce plate armour, they still remained capable of delivery powerful cuts and slashes.
Our reconstruction has a double-edged high carbon steel blade that is fullered on both sides about two thirds down its length. The edges are unsharpened, whereas the tip is very acute, and the blade’s full tang is peened to the pommel.
The hilt is composed of an approx. 20.5 cm long, slightly curved steel crossguard, a wooden grip tightly bound in brown leather, and a disc-shaped, chamfered steel pommel with octagonal facets (Oakeshott Type I1, a popular variant in the 14th and 15th c.).
The gorgeous scabbard with wooden core is covered in brown leather and comes complete with an approx. 4 cm wide, 2 mm thick carrying belt wound around it. The pre-punched belt features a sufficient number of holes to be adjusted to a comfortable, custom fit.
Please note that this medieval sword is not a battle-ready weapon. It is designed as a collector’s or decoration/display piece and is not suited for combat reenactment. Besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume.
Details:
– Blade material: 1065 high carbon steel (not stainless)
– Handle material: leather-wrapped wood, steel pommel, guard and peen block
– Overall length: approx. 99 cm
– Blade length: approx. 81.5 cm
– Blade thickness: approx. 5 mm (approx. 2.5 mm at the tip + cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
– Hilt length: approx. 17.5 cm (grip approx. 10 cm)
– Max. blade width: approx. 5.3 cm
– Point of balance: approx. 13 cm from the guard
– Incl. wooden scabbard with genuine leather cover and belt with steel buckle
– Weight without scabbard: approx. 1.18 kg
– Weight with scabbard: approx. 1.77 kg
Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.
The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade on a regular basis, for example using Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.
