1060?, T10?, no try BRONZE
Apr 30, 2010 13:30:25 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2010 13:30:25 GMT
Thought I'd try my hand at a review and as I haven't seen too many for bronze swords so here goes:
Introduction
I bought this as a Christmas present to me from my wife (good way of getting what you really want) I’d seen pictures and discussions of Neil’s swords on this and other forums and was struck with the idea of a functional and historically accurate bronze age sword. I like the look of leaf shaped blades and the beauty of the bronze just blows me away. £150 plus postage and packing + £30 for the hilt kit
From Neil Burridge at www.bronze-age-craft.com .
Historical overview
London Museum entry:
‘Bronze flange-hilted sword with leaf-shaped blade, U-shaped shoulder and pommel tang. Hilt has slot and six rivet-holes on the shoulder. Decorated with incised lines down the length of the blade. When first recovered in 1835 it had a wooden or bone grip that disintegrated on handling by the finders. Industrial phase: Late Penard. Type: Limehouse - a British copy of an Erbenheim type sword (Burgess and Colquhoun 1988). Found in the Thames at Limehouse Reach, Millwall. Dimensions: L 801 mm; W 63 mm; T 13 mm’
That’s how the London Museum describes the original.
The dimensions of Neil’s version seem a little smaller. The sword edges are work hardened and have a decorative incised line running all around the blade about ¼ inch in from the edge. Neil states that he uses a 12% tin/copper alloy which is at the top end for bronze age sword. He doesn’t use silicon in the aloy which would soften the bronze. Bronze age bronze was also likely to have lead as an impurity but modern health and safety concerns mean it is not present in this sword.
Initial impressions
The sword arrived very quickly and Neil is great to deal with. He offered advice and guidance and was very quick to answer emails. I asked him to supply a handle kit for this sword and even though it is not normally an option for the limehouse he was able to supply it. You can buy the swords with handles already fitted if you wish. I wanted to try it myself and by the judicious use of non-historically correct glue as well as the copper rivets I was able to get it all together without too many problems. Soory no picks of me unwrapping the sword but it came securely packed in a cardboard tube, point held in a foam block and all components well padded.
Statistics
Length overall 29 inches
Blade 24 inches
Widest part of blade 1.85 inches
Thickness near ricasso 0.36 inches
Thickness near point 0.25 inches
POB 7.5 inches from hilt
Weight 1lb 11oz
Components
As supplied by Neil
Blade, hilt components (2 x shaped grip scales, pommel), copper rod for riveting grip scales.
Blade
Bronze leaf shaped blade. Work hardened edges. Semi-sharp as supplied by Neil. I have only dressed the edge with a ceramic rod. This is by no means paper cutting sharp but I’m sure it could be brought to a very fine edge by someone with a bit of skill. I must admit I shied away from messing with the work hardened edge too much
Handle
Oak grip scales and pommel. Inserts of ivory done by me. Grip scales riveted and glued, pommel wedged and glued. Ivory and gold inlay done by me.
Scabbard
None supplied. Home built scabbard . Sheepskin liner, wood plank core, veg tanned leather covering over cord risers, all sewn with artificial sinew. Bronze scabbard rings held with leather straps reinforced with artificial sinew twine. Home made baldric with sheepskin padding, horn buttons and hammered copper clips
Pommel
Circular oak pommel, Ivory and gold inserts. Secured with an internal wedge and glued.
Handling
Light and fairly fast. Good blade presence with the point of balance nearly 8 inched from the short handle.
Test cutting
See video for cutting of very light targets.
Conclusions
What can I say, I love this sword. I had a great deal of fun and learned a lot putting it all together and making the scabbard etc. It looks wonderful
Pros
It looks wonderful. Historically very accurate in materials, construction and appearance
Cons
Have to be fair and point out that it is made of… BRONZE. Do a flex test as for a steel sword and you will end up with a very bent piece of bronze. I only tested against very light targets and I would not recommend it for somebody who wants a backyard cutter
The bottom line
A very nice looking and out of the ordinary sword. A good bit of work to do yourself but that just adds to the pleasure.
Introduction
I bought this as a Christmas present to me from my wife (good way of getting what you really want) I’d seen pictures and discussions of Neil’s swords on this and other forums and was struck with the idea of a functional and historically accurate bronze age sword. I like the look of leaf shaped blades and the beauty of the bronze just blows me away. £150 plus postage and packing + £30 for the hilt kit
From Neil Burridge at www.bronze-age-craft.com .
Historical overview
London Museum entry:
‘Bronze flange-hilted sword with leaf-shaped blade, U-shaped shoulder and pommel tang. Hilt has slot and six rivet-holes on the shoulder. Decorated with incised lines down the length of the blade. When first recovered in 1835 it had a wooden or bone grip that disintegrated on handling by the finders. Industrial phase: Late Penard. Type: Limehouse - a British copy of an Erbenheim type sword (Burgess and Colquhoun 1988). Found in the Thames at Limehouse Reach, Millwall. Dimensions: L 801 mm; W 63 mm; T 13 mm’
That’s how the London Museum describes the original.
The dimensions of Neil’s version seem a little smaller. The sword edges are work hardened and have a decorative incised line running all around the blade about ¼ inch in from the edge. Neil states that he uses a 12% tin/copper alloy which is at the top end for bronze age sword. He doesn’t use silicon in the aloy which would soften the bronze. Bronze age bronze was also likely to have lead as an impurity but modern health and safety concerns mean it is not present in this sword.
Initial impressions
The sword arrived very quickly and Neil is great to deal with. He offered advice and guidance and was very quick to answer emails. I asked him to supply a handle kit for this sword and even though it is not normally an option for the limehouse he was able to supply it. You can buy the swords with handles already fitted if you wish. I wanted to try it myself and by the judicious use of non-historically correct glue as well as the copper rivets I was able to get it all together without too many problems. Soory no picks of me unwrapping the sword but it came securely packed in a cardboard tube, point held in a foam block and all components well padded.
Statistics
Length overall 29 inches
Blade 24 inches
Widest part of blade 1.85 inches
Thickness near ricasso 0.36 inches
Thickness near point 0.25 inches
POB 7.5 inches from hilt
Weight 1lb 11oz
Components
As supplied by Neil
Blade, hilt components (2 x shaped grip scales, pommel), copper rod for riveting grip scales.
Blade
Bronze leaf shaped blade. Work hardened edges. Semi-sharp as supplied by Neil. I have only dressed the edge with a ceramic rod. This is by no means paper cutting sharp but I’m sure it could be brought to a very fine edge by someone with a bit of skill. I must admit I shied away from messing with the work hardened edge too much
Handle
Oak grip scales and pommel. Inserts of ivory done by me. Grip scales riveted and glued, pommel wedged and glued. Ivory and gold inlay done by me.
Scabbard
None supplied. Home built scabbard . Sheepskin liner, wood plank core, veg tanned leather covering over cord risers, all sewn with artificial sinew. Bronze scabbard rings held with leather straps reinforced with artificial sinew twine. Home made baldric with sheepskin padding, horn buttons and hammered copper clips
Pommel
Circular oak pommel, Ivory and gold inserts. Secured with an internal wedge and glued.
Handling
Light and fairly fast. Good blade presence with the point of balance nearly 8 inched from the short handle.
Test cutting
See video for cutting of very light targets.
Conclusions
What can I say, I love this sword. I had a great deal of fun and learned a lot putting it all together and making the scabbard etc. It looks wonderful
Pros
It looks wonderful. Historically very accurate in materials, construction and appearance
Cons
Have to be fair and point out that it is made of… BRONZE. Do a flex test as for a steel sword and you will end up with a very bent piece of bronze. I only tested against very light targets and I would not recommend it for somebody who wants a backyard cutter
The bottom line
A very nice looking and out of the ordinary sword. A good bit of work to do yourself but that just adds to the pleasure.