Angus Trim / Christian Fletcher Type XII.2
Mar 5, 2010 22:51:38 GMT
Post by ShooterMike on Mar 5, 2010 22:51:38 GMT
Angus Trim / Christian Fletcher
Maker's Mark Type XII.2
Maker's Mark Type XII.2
Review by Mike Harris -- March 2010[/center]
Swords which fall into the Oakeshott Type XII category are always single-hand swords with a noticeable profile taper to a rather acute point, with fullers that ran two-thirds to three-quarters of the blade length. These seem to have been popular (it is thought) from possibly as early as the 1000s to as late at the 1400s. There are many surviving specimens, and Ewart Oakeshott asserted that there is no reliable way to date a Type XII based solely on its blade or hilt type.
This is the first production run of a new sword for the Maker's Mark line. The blade and hilt components are made by Angus Trim. The grips are wrapped and final assembly is done by Christian Fletcher, who acts as cutler for the line. Swords in the Maker's Mark Line may be ordered from the Christian Fletcher website at www.christianfletcher.com or by emailing cf@christianfletcher.com.
As I understand it, this one will be called the Maker's Mark Type XII.2 and will be available soon from Christian Fletcher. The "point two" designation indicates that this is the second Type XII in the Maker's Mark line. The first is a medium-heavy triple-fuller sword that has outstanding handling qualities and is intended as a power cutter of sorts. It works great for shearing blows and is subtle enough for all types of swordplay.
This second Type XII in the series could be seen as the "bookend" at the opposite end of the spectrum. It is significantly lighter and handles quicker. While the XII.1 sword is a cut&thrust sword with emphasis on the cut, this sword is a cut&thrust sword with a bit of emphasis on the thrust and on short quick "snappy" types of cuts. It accelerates faster, in a shorter distance than the XII.1, though it gives up a little in massive power in shearing blows.
Specifications
OAL------------------------- 39"
Blade length---------------- 32.25"
Grip------------------------ 4"
Width at base--------------- 2.15"
Width 1.5 in from tip ------ 1.7"
COP------------------------- 22.5"
COG------------------------- 4.5"
Weight---------------------- 2 lbs, 4 ozs
Aesthetics, Fit & Finish
Angus Trim has been well known for making swords that handle and perform great, but look rather workmanlike. He has recently embarked on a program to improve the overall aesthetics of his sword designs. Blades have been redesigned in an attempt to better capture the subtle curves and artistry of period original swords. Polishing and sharpening processes have been altered and expanded to create a more smooth and consistent satin finish with a convex "appleseed" edge, and fullers receive extra attention. Christian Fletcher has designed several new sets of hilt furniture. The manner in which grips are wrapped has changed as well.
The end result are swords that look much more refined to me. This sword is the first I've seen that has benefitted from all these improvements. And I am impressed with the changes. This blade looks very nicely done, with a consistent finish over all surfaces. Previously, ATrim blades with fullers almost always had visible grind marks of remnants of machine marks down in the bottom of the fullers. These are completely absent everywhere on this sword. All surfaces exhibit a smooth satin finish from polishing at what looks like 600 grit. I verified this by doing a slight bit of sharpening on one edge using my auto body sanding pad with new 600 grit paper. All in all, I would rate this a superior finish.
The new guards from Christian Fletcher feature inletting on the face of the guard to allow the blade shoulders to sit down into the guard a bit. These have been standard on many sword, but have not previously been seen on ATrim swords. This new guard exhibits graceful design and seems to be a historical rendition of the Oakeshott Style 2 guard. The edges are beveled to give this guard a slight octagonal cross section that is subtle and pleasing.
The pommel is a new design, and is what I would call a Type K with a large raised central disc. I find this pommel attractive, and I think it would also look good with a coin or coat of arms inlaid in the cental disc. The assembly method results in a very nice and massive "mushroom" at the back of the pommel.
The grip I selected for this one is a 4" three-riser design with dark green leather wrap over cord. I am a fan of diverse colors on grips, and I detest black. So this one suited me well. Gus was nice enough to send me a grip core that I could wrap before the sword was assembled, to make this a more personal sword. So in the interests of full disclosure, I did this grip. It is not a
Christian Fletcher original.
I don't think green will be a standard color for this sword as a stocked item. But as always, you can email Christian and discuss options with him. Most swords in the line can be ordered with custom grip colors.
Handling Characteristics
With a blade that's just over 32 inches long and a balance point of 4.25 inches, this sword is light and balances pretty close to the the hand. But it still has a bit of blade presence and gives surprisingly good awareness of the point. The point seems to just go where you want it with no effort. This is much different than a lot of neutrally balanced swords, where you have a tendency to over-steer the point and miss targets when moving the blade about rapidly.
The blade features shoulders that flare for the first 3 inches, then the profile tapers in a very slightly curved arc toward the tip. There is really not a straight line along the edge, which lends a lot of historic reality to the blade shape and eliminates the feeling and look of modern machining.
The sword feels light in-hand, but still has a feeling of power when you make it move through cuts, guards and thrusts. It's a subtle thing, but noticeable to all. I let two friends who have no experience with swords use this one. They both commented how it didn't feel light like a toy, but that it felt just....... deadly.
Cutting & Thrusting
Due to the incessant rains we've been having I was not able to get any tatami cutting done. I also would like to test this sword on quarter-inch plywood as a test of sheild bashing. But for now, I will have to suffice with cutting plastic bottles. Still and all, I think this video does a decent job of showing the quickness and overall handiness of this sword. The end of the video shows a bit of thrusting. I'm very impressed with the point control and awareness this sword provides.
Pros & Cons
I am tempted to say there are no "cons", but that just wouldn't be right. One potential con is that you can't always just go to Christian Fletcher website and order one of these swords and expect it to ship within a few days. That would be the norm with a true production sword. I consider anything in the Maker's Mark Line to be at least a semi-custom sword. The prices reflect that and so do the available options.
I consider the permanent hilt assemble to be a distinct "pro" characteristic. These swords are rock-solid built and should last a life time, or at least until you wear the blade out.
Conclusion
I was sent this sword with the opportunity to review it and return it to Gus Trim at no cost other than return shipping. But I paid for it a couple of days ago and now it's mine. I really only had enough money to buy one sword, and this is the one I chose to buy first. I'm a huge fan of Type XII swords, owning more of this type than any other. This one occupies a bit of a unique niche in the collection. Not a heavy cutter, but still a cutter. Not a long pointy thruster, but still a good thrusting sword. I strikes me as a very good all-around sword for many types of single-hand use.