Windlass Squires sword review
Oct 12, 2010 8:09:25 GMT
Post by serge021974 on Oct 12, 2010 8:09:25 GMT
Windlass Squires sword review
In medieval times a squire was a man-at-arms in the service of a knight, often as his apprentice. In later centuries, the term's meaning shifted. Squires are often known in current day as wealthy landowning people in rural England.
The English word squire comes from the Old French escuier (modern French écuyer), itself derived from the Late Latin scutarius ("shield bearer"), in medieval or Old English a 'scutifer].. The Classical Latin equivalent was armiger, "arms bearer". One became a squire at the age of 13 or 14.
A squire was originally a young man who aspired to the rank of knighthood and who, as part of his development to that end, served an existing knight as his attendant or shield carrier. If he proved his loyalty in battle, he would have a dubbing, an official ceremony to become a knight. However, during the Middle Ages the rank of the squire came to be recognized in its own right and, once knighthood ceased to be conferred by any but the monarch, it was no longer to be assumed that a squire would in due course progress to be a knight. The connection between a squire and any particular knight also ceased to exist, as did any shield
carrying duties.
The typical duties of a squire included:
Carrying the knight's armor, shield, and sword,
Holding any prisoners the knight takes,
Rescuing the knight should the knight be taken prisoner,
Taking the knight to safety should the knight be injured,
Ensuring an honorable burial of the knight in the event of his death,
Replacing the knight's sword if it broke or was dropped,
Replacing the knight's horse with a new horse or the squire's should the horse be injured or killed,
Dressing the knight in his armor,
Carrying the knight's flag,
And protecting the knight if needed.
In English village life from the late 17th century through the early 20th century, there was often one principal family of gentry, owning much of the land and living in the largest house, maybe the manor house. The head of this family was often called "the squire."
Squires were gentlemen with a coat of arms and were often related to peers. Many could claim descent from knights and had been settled in their inherited estates for hundreds of years. The squire usually lived at the village manor house and owned an estate comprising the village with the villagers being his tenants. If the squire "owned the living" (i.e. -- "was patron") of the parish church—and he often did—he would choose the rector, a role often filled by a younger son of the squire. Some squires also became the local rector themselves and were known as squarsons—a combination of the words squire and parson. The squire would also have performed a number of important local duties, in particular that of justice of the peace or Member of Parliament. Such was the power of the squires at this time that modern historians have created the term squirearchy.
Politically, during the 19th century squires tended to be Tories whereas the greatest landlords tended to be Whigs.
The position of squire was traditionally associated with occupation of the manor house, which would often itself confer the dignity of squire. It is unclear how widely the village squire may still be said to survive today; but where it does, the role is likely more dependent upon a recognition of good manners, lineage and long family association rather than land, which, while relevant, is nowadays likely to be considerably smaller than in former years due to high post-war death duties and the prohibitive costs associated with maintaining large country houses.
In earlier years in the U.S. the title squire was given to a Justice of the Peace, for example Squire Jones. It was also used to mean Justice of the Peace as in the example "He was taken before the squire."
There are numerous other squires in English literature. King Arthur in The Sword in the Stone was Sir Kai's squire as a boy. Others include Squire Hamley in Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters; the squire in The Canterbury Tales; and Squire Allworthy (based on Ralph Allen) in the novel Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, who was himself a squire and magistrate.
Windlass squires sword
Review by Winckelmans Serge, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Windlass Steelcrafts are well known for making some of the most historically accurate budget swords on the market today. I don’t know what they mean with “squire” who held this sword? Was it a server, a noble man,…? I don’t know. As you can see above in my description a squire can be a lot of people. I can’t imagine that a knight’s server would have a sword as this, but we don’t know because only the knights came in history pages and almost nothing about servers. So we have to take this sword as it is…a “squires sword”.
I haven’t made such a long review as you’re used of me, because I just realized that this model is discontinued by Windlass.
Stats:
Overall Length: 38''
Blade: 30 1/2''
Weight: 3 lb 1.6 oz
THE BLADE
Blade is well polished, not very long and with diamond cross section, double edged
The tip isn’t as pointy as the Henry VIII sword (but thrustable).
GRIP
a hilt made of solid brass parts.
GUARD
Made of solid, brass parts. The blade fits nice in the hilt.
POMMEL
The hilt is one piece, so I think it’s needless to say that it’s a brass, round, pommel.
THE SCABBARD
Standard Windlass leather cover, but the brass plated throat and drag make it for a very decent looking piece.
FIT AND FINISH
Overall, this is very nice looking sword. Windlass used very attractive and decent materials creating this sword. The reason I bought this sword was his hilt. Because this hilt is made of one piece, it’s quite heavy, so the sword doesn’t feel heavy at all. It really is a pleasure to handle the sword (it feels VERY light).
CUTTING AND HANDLING
cutting some plastic bottles. I also tried to cut the 5 liter bottle I used at the Henry VIII sword review.
cutting a tatami mat.
For a medieval “squires” sword are this attractive cuts. Aren’t they?
CONCLUSION
A very well done, truly beautiful sword from Windlass. I would recommend this sword for any collection as a functional but most of all as a display sword (as Windlass hadn’t discontinued this sword…).
It’s very light in hand and a pleasure to use. I think I've to thank Windlass steelcrafts because discontinuing this sword gave me a very unique and beautiful sword. I'm not gona tell more about this sword because otherwise I think I'm gona make you all angry for not being available anymore.
THE VERDICT
Historical Accuracy: ?/5
Fit and Finish: 5/5
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5
WHERE TO BUY
I bought mine here at Kult of Athena where it has gone out the door for $134.95.
In medieval times a squire was a man-at-arms in the service of a knight, often as his apprentice. In later centuries, the term's meaning shifted. Squires are often known in current day as wealthy landowning people in rural England.
The English word squire comes from the Old French escuier (modern French écuyer), itself derived from the Late Latin scutarius ("shield bearer"), in medieval or Old English a 'scutifer].. The Classical Latin equivalent was armiger, "arms bearer". One became a squire at the age of 13 or 14.
A squire was originally a young man who aspired to the rank of knighthood and who, as part of his development to that end, served an existing knight as his attendant or shield carrier. If he proved his loyalty in battle, he would have a dubbing, an official ceremony to become a knight. However, during the Middle Ages the rank of the squire came to be recognized in its own right and, once knighthood ceased to be conferred by any but the monarch, it was no longer to be assumed that a squire would in due course progress to be a knight. The connection between a squire and any particular knight also ceased to exist, as did any shield
carrying duties.
The typical duties of a squire included:
Carrying the knight's armor, shield, and sword,
Holding any prisoners the knight takes,
Rescuing the knight should the knight be taken prisoner,
Taking the knight to safety should the knight be injured,
Ensuring an honorable burial of the knight in the event of his death,
Replacing the knight's sword if it broke or was dropped,
Replacing the knight's horse with a new horse or the squire's should the horse be injured or killed,
Dressing the knight in his armor,
Carrying the knight's flag,
And protecting the knight if needed.
In English village life from the late 17th century through the early 20th century, there was often one principal family of gentry, owning much of the land and living in the largest house, maybe the manor house. The head of this family was often called "the squire."
Squires were gentlemen with a coat of arms and were often related to peers. Many could claim descent from knights and had been settled in their inherited estates for hundreds of years. The squire usually lived at the village manor house and owned an estate comprising the village with the villagers being his tenants. If the squire "owned the living" (i.e. -- "was patron") of the parish church—and he often did—he would choose the rector, a role often filled by a younger son of the squire. Some squires also became the local rector themselves and were known as squarsons—a combination of the words squire and parson. The squire would also have performed a number of important local duties, in particular that of justice of the peace or Member of Parliament. Such was the power of the squires at this time that modern historians have created the term squirearchy.
Politically, during the 19th century squires tended to be Tories whereas the greatest landlords tended to be Whigs.
The position of squire was traditionally associated with occupation of the manor house, which would often itself confer the dignity of squire. It is unclear how widely the village squire may still be said to survive today; but where it does, the role is likely more dependent upon a recognition of good manners, lineage and long family association rather than land, which, while relevant, is nowadays likely to be considerably smaller than in former years due to high post-war death duties and the prohibitive costs associated with maintaining large country houses.
In earlier years in the U.S. the title squire was given to a Justice of the Peace, for example Squire Jones. It was also used to mean Justice of the Peace as in the example "He was taken before the squire."
There are numerous other squires in English literature. King Arthur in The Sword in the Stone was Sir Kai's squire as a boy. Others include Squire Hamley in Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters; the squire in The Canterbury Tales; and Squire Allworthy (based on Ralph Allen) in the novel Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, who was himself a squire and magistrate.
Windlass squires sword
Review by Winckelmans Serge, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Windlass Steelcrafts are well known for making some of the most historically accurate budget swords on the market today. I don’t know what they mean with “squire” who held this sword? Was it a server, a noble man,…? I don’t know. As you can see above in my description a squire can be a lot of people. I can’t imagine that a knight’s server would have a sword as this, but we don’t know because only the knights came in history pages and almost nothing about servers. So we have to take this sword as it is…a “squires sword”.
I haven’t made such a long review as you’re used of me, because I just realized that this model is discontinued by Windlass.
Stats:
Overall Length: 38''
Blade: 30 1/2''
Weight: 3 lb 1.6 oz
THE BLADE
Blade is well polished, not very long and with diamond cross section, double edged
The tip isn’t as pointy as the Henry VIII sword (but thrustable).
GRIP
a hilt made of solid brass parts.
GUARD
Made of solid, brass parts. The blade fits nice in the hilt.
POMMEL
The hilt is one piece, so I think it’s needless to say that it’s a brass, round, pommel.
THE SCABBARD
Standard Windlass leather cover, but the brass plated throat and drag make it for a very decent looking piece.
FIT AND FINISH
Overall, this is very nice looking sword. Windlass used very attractive and decent materials creating this sword. The reason I bought this sword was his hilt. Because this hilt is made of one piece, it’s quite heavy, so the sword doesn’t feel heavy at all. It really is a pleasure to handle the sword (it feels VERY light).
CUTTING AND HANDLING
cutting some plastic bottles. I also tried to cut the 5 liter bottle I used at the Henry VIII sword review.
cutting a tatami mat.
For a medieval “squires” sword are this attractive cuts. Aren’t they?
CONCLUSION
A very well done, truly beautiful sword from Windlass. I would recommend this sword for any collection as a functional but most of all as a display sword (as Windlass hadn’t discontinued this sword…).
It’s very light in hand and a pleasure to use. I think I've to thank Windlass steelcrafts because discontinuing this sword gave me a very unique and beautiful sword. I'm not gona tell more about this sword because otherwise I think I'm gona make you all angry for not being available anymore.
THE VERDICT
Historical Accuracy: ?/5
Fit and Finish: 5/5
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5
WHERE TO BUY
I bought mine here at Kult of Athena where it has gone out the door for $134.95.