Windlass Coustille: Sword Or Dagger? Find Out!
Nov 3, 2007 17:26:13 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2007 17:26:13 GMT
A review of what what is most likely Windlass's smallest sword...or biggest dagger.
Presenting the Windlass New Coustille, reviewed by Corey Sullivan, of Port Dover, Ontario, Canada.
Hello everyone! I'm here to review a sword that is somewhat unique in the sub-300 category of swords. Or, rare in the whole sword reproduction environment. I picked this sword, because I was looking for a medieval short sword, and this one was one of the best looking of the rather limited selection. I was looking for something small and fast that could also deliver a good cut. The New Coustille seemed to fit the bill perfectly. The only problem is actually classifying it. Is it a very short sword? Or a very long dagger? As we'll soon find out, it's actually both.
I place my order at Kult of Athena on October 11th, at 3:11pm. I paid $99.95+ $27 shipping for a total of $126.95. I received it on the 25th of October, which makes for a shipping time of exactly 2 weeks. Not bad for shipping to Canada. Transaction was smooth as can be.
When it arrived, it was securely packaged in bubble wrap, tape and cardboard. When released from it's tomb, I held it aloft, celebrating it's magnificent..ly....small....proportions...
Yes, it was a little smaller then I thought, but no less pretty. Here's the vital stats, which I measured.(You never can trust those dealers... ;D)
Length Overall: 55.9 cm (22" to you backwards imperials)
Blade Length: 42.5cm (16 3/4")
Grip Length (excluding hilt and pommel): 9.5cm (3 3/4")
Total Grip Length: 13.3 cm (5 1/4")
Blade Width: 5.1cm (2") Tapering smoothly to a point
Thickness: Approx. .5cm (3/16") tapering to about .2cm (1/16") 1.5" from tip.
Weight: 1 lbs 8.9oz
Point of Balance: A mere 1.9 cm (3/4") from guard
COP: Roughly 31.8cm (12 1/2") from guard, just after the fuller ends.
Cross Section: Diamond
Now, for a little history lesson. Don't groan! It'll be fun! I promise!
The Coustel (or Cultellius) appeared around the beginning of the 1300's. It was a somewhat popular weapon for commoners and soldiers. The name Coustille is French (obviously), and because the weapon was used extensively by French soldiers during the period, groups of such soldiers came to be known as Coustilliers (pg 253, Oakeshott's Archeology). The name was also applied to brigands and cutthroats, because of the use the weapon received from such rogues. It's not hard to see why either. During the time period, in walled towns and cities, swords were restricted to nobility, and commoners were not allowed to enter with them. Thus the rise of a weapon that was short enough to pass as a dagger, but long enough to parry blows and deliver a solid cut. Thus, it was in common usage by those who sought to bend the rules. I can just imagine some shady character being stopped at the town walls for the weapon, and him replying "That's no sword, that's me eatin' dagger!"
The sword (dagger???) certainly fits the bill, as a weapon that I wouldn't hesitate to have with me in a seedy tavern brawl, or a dark back alley.
Check here under large dagger variants about 1/8 of the way down the page.
bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/Weapon-List/Blade-List.htm
So, with no more gilding the lily, on to the review!
First Impressions:
It's quite small. But that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. It feels very solid, with no rattling of the hilt. The pommel appears to be screw on, but is very solidly attached. I couldn't budge it with my hands, and I'm not about to stick it in a vice to wrench it off. However, the whole thing feels quite firm.
Scabbard:
Standard Windlass leather garbage sheath. It fits the sword very well, but as it's leather, I can't store the thing in it. This will probably be the first wood core scabbard I try to made, as the small size may make it easier.
Grip:
Standard Windlass shiny leather over wood. Grip is oval, so edge alignment isn't terribly difficult. It's quite comfortable. Stitching is nicer then some windlasses I've seen. Only problem is grip is a tiny bit too small, and causes my hand to either extend over guard or pommel slightly. Not a big problem. I find a hammer grip to be the best way to handle it. A reverse dagger grip with the blade pointing down is also possible.
Guard:
Nice simple curved guard, nicely polished. No flaws, nice finish. Standard, but I like it. There's a small gap between the blade and hilt, but it hasn't come loose yet, and seems solidly attached.
Pommel
Standard wheel pommel, similar to that found on many arming swords. Clean lines, nice weight. Could stand to be actually lighter, moving the POB forward a little. Only foreseeable problem would be that my hand, resting on the pommel constantly, is beginning to patina the top of it. Not a problem, I polished it off easily, but still. Minus 1/2 finish point.
Blade:
Blade is very sturdy, and quite stiff. A little spring, but not much. This isn't surprising on a blade only 17" long. It tapers steadily from the base to the point, looking like a shrunken type XIV arming sword. Like a mini Sovereign. It's extremely well tempered. I was only able to flex it about an inch out of line, and it goes back immediately. Fuller is slightly off line on one side. Not terrible, but still. Minus 1 to Fit and finish. Blade took a good edge from a whetstone, and point is phenomenal. Almost as sharp as my windlass viking spear, and it exhibits the same diamond reinforced tip, with ridge line. Very sturdy. It was nicely finished, but I managed to mark it up with the stone, but I polished it up slightly and it looks good with little effort. A few tiny marks were present, but so small as to be indistinguishable.
Tang
I dissasembled the Coustille to get some shots of the tang. It was a threaded pommel, so all it took was a few wrenches with my hand while it was in a vice to get it off.
I don't know, but the tang seems just a tiny bit undersized. However, the sword is quite small, so it may not matter that much. I don't know how much stress is put on a smaller blade, but the tang might be satisfactory. Still, I would only reccomend it as a light cutter.
Also got a shot of the blade shoulders, which are quite angular. Could this adversely affect the tang by placing too much stress on it? I might consider rounding them off slightly.
Handling
Here's where the coustille shines. It handled like a big dagger. Very fast and controllable. The point tracks easily,(with some practice, which I need.) The only thing the blade lacks is heft. It's not authoritative enough for heavy targets. Maybe it's my cutting technique, which I'm striving to improve,(after all, I moved from a two-handed, curved katana to a single handed straight bladed medieval sword.) The blade easily accelerates to cut lighter targets, and with enough practice, I believe I can get it to cut heavier ones. You have to remember though, it wasn't meant for that. It was a rogue's blade and a soldier's backup. It wasn't needed to cut through limbs, though it could probably cut off your hand. It excels at draw cuts and slashes. On softer targets, it could easily cut out of a thrust. And with that in mind, onto the cutting tests.
Cutting Tests:
Even with my limited experience and practice, it cuts water bottles with ease. Milk Jugs, offering more resistance, are harder to get through. Edge held up well, no deformation. Still sturdy as ever.
Thrusting:
Thrusting against a heavy plastic jug. The walls are about 1/4 of an inch thick. Point penetrated easily, even in rapid fire thrusts. Point was still as sharp as ever.
The blade thrusts great. The jug stood no chance, even against my wild stabbing.
Final Numbers
Fit and Finish: 4.5/5- For the off-kilter fuller
Handling: 5.5/5 Seriously.
Structural Integrity: 5/5 Still sturdy, after cutting.
Value for Money: 4.5/5
Historical Accuracy: 4/5 No peening, but looks similar to historical example.
Overall: 4.7/5 A big Wayne's World "EXCELLENT!"
In conclusion:
This sword is the epitome of "handiness". It's small enough to go just about anywhere easily, and powerful enough to do what you want when you get there. It's the perfect thing for shadowy meetings and dimly lit taverns. So, if your looking for a short sword, or a long dagger , the Coustille fulfills the need. Study, lethal, and cute enough to make the ladies smile when you flash a roguish grin. And at only 99 clams from KOA, it's a steal.
Presenting the Windlass New Coustille, reviewed by Corey Sullivan, of Port Dover, Ontario, Canada.
Hello everyone! I'm here to review a sword that is somewhat unique in the sub-300 category of swords. Or, rare in the whole sword reproduction environment. I picked this sword, because I was looking for a medieval short sword, and this one was one of the best looking of the rather limited selection. I was looking for something small and fast that could also deliver a good cut. The New Coustille seemed to fit the bill perfectly. The only problem is actually classifying it. Is it a very short sword? Or a very long dagger? As we'll soon find out, it's actually both.
I place my order at Kult of Athena on October 11th, at 3:11pm. I paid $99.95+ $27 shipping for a total of $126.95. I received it on the 25th of October, which makes for a shipping time of exactly 2 weeks. Not bad for shipping to Canada. Transaction was smooth as can be.
When it arrived, it was securely packaged in bubble wrap, tape and cardboard. When released from it's tomb, I held it aloft, celebrating it's magnificent..ly....small....proportions...
Yes, it was a little smaller then I thought, but no less pretty. Here's the vital stats, which I measured.(You never can trust those dealers... ;D)
Length Overall: 55.9 cm (22" to you backwards imperials)
Blade Length: 42.5cm (16 3/4")
Grip Length (excluding hilt and pommel): 9.5cm (3 3/4")
Total Grip Length: 13.3 cm (5 1/4")
Blade Width: 5.1cm (2") Tapering smoothly to a point
Thickness: Approx. .5cm (3/16") tapering to about .2cm (1/16") 1.5" from tip.
Weight: 1 lbs 8.9oz
Point of Balance: A mere 1.9 cm (3/4") from guard
COP: Roughly 31.8cm (12 1/2") from guard, just after the fuller ends.
Cross Section: Diamond
Now, for a little history lesson. Don't groan! It'll be fun! I promise!
The Coustel (or Cultellius) appeared around the beginning of the 1300's. It was a somewhat popular weapon for commoners and soldiers. The name Coustille is French (obviously), and because the weapon was used extensively by French soldiers during the period, groups of such soldiers came to be known as Coustilliers (pg 253, Oakeshott's Archeology). The name was also applied to brigands and cutthroats, because of the use the weapon received from such rogues. It's not hard to see why either. During the time period, in walled towns and cities, swords were restricted to nobility, and commoners were not allowed to enter with them. Thus the rise of a weapon that was short enough to pass as a dagger, but long enough to parry blows and deliver a solid cut. Thus, it was in common usage by those who sought to bend the rules. I can just imagine some shady character being stopped at the town walls for the weapon, and him replying "That's no sword, that's me eatin' dagger!"
The sword (dagger???) certainly fits the bill, as a weapon that I wouldn't hesitate to have with me in a seedy tavern brawl, or a dark back alley.
Check here under large dagger variants about 1/8 of the way down the page.
bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/Weapon-List/Blade-List.htm
So, with no more gilding the lily, on to the review!
First Impressions:
It's quite small. But that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. It feels very solid, with no rattling of the hilt. The pommel appears to be screw on, but is very solidly attached. I couldn't budge it with my hands, and I'm not about to stick it in a vice to wrench it off. However, the whole thing feels quite firm.
Scabbard:
Standard Windlass leather garbage sheath. It fits the sword very well, but as it's leather, I can't store the thing in it. This will probably be the first wood core scabbard I try to made, as the small size may make it easier.
Grip:
Standard Windlass shiny leather over wood. Grip is oval, so edge alignment isn't terribly difficult. It's quite comfortable. Stitching is nicer then some windlasses I've seen. Only problem is grip is a tiny bit too small, and causes my hand to either extend over guard or pommel slightly. Not a big problem. I find a hammer grip to be the best way to handle it. A reverse dagger grip with the blade pointing down is also possible.
Guard:
Nice simple curved guard, nicely polished. No flaws, nice finish. Standard, but I like it. There's a small gap between the blade and hilt, but it hasn't come loose yet, and seems solidly attached.
Pommel
Standard wheel pommel, similar to that found on many arming swords. Clean lines, nice weight. Could stand to be actually lighter, moving the POB forward a little. Only foreseeable problem would be that my hand, resting on the pommel constantly, is beginning to patina the top of it. Not a problem, I polished it off easily, but still. Minus 1/2 finish point.
Blade:
Blade is very sturdy, and quite stiff. A little spring, but not much. This isn't surprising on a blade only 17" long. It tapers steadily from the base to the point, looking like a shrunken type XIV arming sword. Like a mini Sovereign. It's extremely well tempered. I was only able to flex it about an inch out of line, and it goes back immediately. Fuller is slightly off line on one side. Not terrible, but still. Minus 1 to Fit and finish. Blade took a good edge from a whetstone, and point is phenomenal. Almost as sharp as my windlass viking spear, and it exhibits the same diamond reinforced tip, with ridge line. Very sturdy. It was nicely finished, but I managed to mark it up with the stone, but I polished it up slightly and it looks good with little effort. A few tiny marks were present, but so small as to be indistinguishable.
Tang
I dissasembled the Coustille to get some shots of the tang. It was a threaded pommel, so all it took was a few wrenches with my hand while it was in a vice to get it off.
I don't know, but the tang seems just a tiny bit undersized. However, the sword is quite small, so it may not matter that much. I don't know how much stress is put on a smaller blade, but the tang might be satisfactory. Still, I would only reccomend it as a light cutter.
Also got a shot of the blade shoulders, which are quite angular. Could this adversely affect the tang by placing too much stress on it? I might consider rounding them off slightly.
Handling
Here's where the coustille shines. It handled like a big dagger. Very fast and controllable. The point tracks easily,(with some practice, which I need.) The only thing the blade lacks is heft. It's not authoritative enough for heavy targets. Maybe it's my cutting technique, which I'm striving to improve,(after all, I moved from a two-handed, curved katana to a single handed straight bladed medieval sword.) The blade easily accelerates to cut lighter targets, and with enough practice, I believe I can get it to cut heavier ones. You have to remember though, it wasn't meant for that. It was a rogue's blade and a soldier's backup. It wasn't needed to cut through limbs, though it could probably cut off your hand. It excels at draw cuts and slashes. On softer targets, it could easily cut out of a thrust. And with that in mind, onto the cutting tests.
Cutting Tests:
Even with my limited experience and practice, it cuts water bottles with ease. Milk Jugs, offering more resistance, are harder to get through. Edge held up well, no deformation. Still sturdy as ever.
Thrusting:
Thrusting against a heavy plastic jug. The walls are about 1/4 of an inch thick. Point penetrated easily, even in rapid fire thrusts. Point was still as sharp as ever.
The blade thrusts great. The jug stood no chance, even against my wild stabbing.
Final Numbers
Fit and Finish: 4.5/5- For the off-kilter fuller
Handling: 5.5/5 Seriously.
Structural Integrity: 5/5 Still sturdy, after cutting.
Value for Money: 4.5/5
Historical Accuracy: 4/5 No peening, but looks similar to historical example.
Overall: 4.7/5 A big Wayne's World "EXCELLENT!"
In conclusion:
This sword is the epitome of "handiness". It's small enough to go just about anywhere easily, and powerful enough to do what you want when you get there. It's the perfect thing for shadowy meetings and dimly lit taverns. So, if your looking for a short sword, or a long dagger , the Coustille fulfills the need. Study, lethal, and cute enough to make the ladies smile when you flash a roguish grin. And at only 99 clams from KOA, it's a steal.