Generation2 Knightly Riding Sword Prototype
Jan 4, 2008 1:04:55 GMT
Post by ShooterMike on Jan 4, 2008 1:04:55 GMT
Generation 2 Knightly Riding Sword
By Adam and Shootermike
Introduction:
Based off of a river find and meticulously detailed by the late Ewart Oakeshott, the Knightly Riding Sword has become more of a proper noun than a category of swords to those in the know. Whenever the term 'Knightly Riding Sword', or even 'Riding Sword' is mentioned to students of the sword, this example is the first that comes to mind. So far, similar swords have been produced by high end and low end makers alike, with such offerings as The Prince and The Kingmaker from Albion Armorers, and another by the same name as the one in this review by Arms and Armor, and although the latter has a few similar features such as a sharply forward curving guard and similar blade profile, it's dimensions and lack of fuller make it an entirely different sword.
The most curious aspect of this sword is also the most controversial. The size. With a blade of a mere 21'', it's quite the opposite of 'large'. Many believed it for some time to be the sword of a young boy, and romantic images of him tossing it into a river as he progresses into knighthood and adulthood(with larger, 'manlier' swords) have a tendency to run rampant in our minds. Oakeshott argued against such notions, along with others that this was merely a sidearm to an archer or some such, by pointing out how other swords of the exact same dimensions are found on effigies of nobility in Germany. No, this was a Knightly weapon, a sword a Knight would take with him everywhere he went, even if it wasn't his primary weapon in battle.
Here is what Generation 2 has to say about their History Lives line of swords:
“Generation 2 historical reproduction battle ready medieval swords, daggers and axes not only has the best fit and finish, strong tangs that make them fully functional and don't forget many are Historically accurate...“
That being said, the pattern has been that Generation 2 has a good well earned reputation amongst use-oriented consumers for relatively inexpensive swords every bit as durable as the more expensive manufacturers, with the compromise being on less intricate detail and level of polish on the blade.
I was lucky enough to receive this sword while in the company of the proprietors of Wild Wolf Forge, retailers for Imperial Arms and first-rate custom sword builders in their own right. I asked Dan and Dimytri to take a look at the sword as well. Their input forms the basis for this review almost as much as my own observations, so credit where credit is due...
The Gen2 Knightly Riding Sword prototype is an interesting and unique sword for this manufacturer. I can't think of a better way to describe it than "handy" in both appearance and use. By nature and design, riding swords are reasonably small and light. The design was intended to be worn during everyday activities, and as such it needs to be both comfortable to wear and convenient (read "out of the way") as you go about your everyday activities. For a knight, that often included riding about the countryside. Thus the moniker "Riding Sword."
However, most common riding swords sport blades of around 26-30 inches in length coupled with a single-hand grip and a small, unobtrusive guard. All that fits the Gen2 offering, except for the blade length. This sword is based on an existing historical piece, once owned by Ewart Oakeshott himself. It is noted as the Type XVI.4 in Oakeshott's notes and has been the topic of much speculation due to its small size. Many (myself included) long assumed it to be a boys sword due to the small overall length as seen in many photos of this sword. However upon handling, this sword immediately puts that idea to rest. While the Gen2 prototype will require a few changes to bring it more in line with the original, these handling characteristics won't change and it will be obvious that this sword was intended for a grown man to use in combat.
How We Test:
We can be as picky or generous as we want with sword ratings, but such subjectivity is hardly helpful. Therefore I've tried to be as objective as I can, not judging the sword compared to those of other manufacturers, but rather with the sword that it was set out to be. Obviously comparisons may be made with other swords, but note that these comparisons are meant only to give a reader a better understanding of the characteristics of the sword, and are not meant to be the basis of judgment.
This particular sword is meant to be a reproduction of the sword known as XVI.4 by Oakeshott, informally as the 'Knightly Riding Sword'. From speaking with Clyde Hollis of Generation 2, my understanding is that this sword was designed as closely as possible to the dimensions and drawings they had on hand, which I have been provided with. My scale has 5 levels, used most commonly in employee reviews at many places of business. They are, in ascending order: Abysmal, Fails to Meet Expectations, Meets Expectations, Exceeds Expectations, and Outstanding. I prefer this kind of rating to a 1 to 5 scale because it more appropriately rates the sword, rather than just assigning an abstract number to it – particularly because a 2/5 for one person may be a 4/5 for another. While there is some subjectivity even in the way I choose to review, I believe it to be more valuable than the number scale.
I am not a big fan of the 1-5 numerical rating system. I am probably more critical than others. But since that's the norm I will provide numbers and try to explain them.
Appearance:
My first impression of the sword was 'Damn, this thing is SMALL'. It almost seems like a large knife. Getting used to it takes only a minute or two of handling before it's very obviously a sword and not a knife. It feels like a sword and I like that. I'll have words with anyone who calls it a knife at this point.
It's got an attractive broad blade that tapers very little, but evenly almost the full length, then very quickly to a point in the last couple inches or so. It has a diamond cross section and a nice deep fuller. The finish is very nice and smooth, though obviously not brought to the same standards of brightness found on other swords. 'Satin' Polish is a bit of an understatement. However, this is not a bad thing at all, and I feel that this lower level of polish suits the aesthetic of this sword very well, and has the advantage that it will be quicker and easier to clean up after several cutting sessions. I don't predict it would take very long or much effort to maintain it's current level of finish.
Very close inspection leads one to notice that the lines are clean and well executed, though scrutinizing the tiniest details reveals some inconsistencies. The fuller is not perfectly even, and under extreme scrutiny the blade is obviously hand made, with the uneven surface marks inherent in hammer work. The lines of the edges and the point don't come perfectly together to a tip, though it almost takes a magnifying glass to tell. Also, just barely, the two edges are asymmetrical. All these inconsistencies, though present, aren't noticeable unless you're face is merely an inch or two from the blade itself(and are far and away too minor to affect the performance of the sword in any way), so I deem all this as acceptable almost even expected - particularly considering the price point. I'm very very fond of the blade, despite how short it is. Two thumbs up.
The hilt on the other hand, is not my favorite. Generation 2 has a very very distinct style of swords, and this one is no different.
I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the hilt is very 'modern' looking. I'm not sure if it's the finish of the steel guard and pommel or (more likely) the material and color of the grip. Needless to say, some love the aesthetic, and others don't. I'm not too in love with it, but that's not to say it's unattractive. It's clean and simple, which is very nice, and it's rock solid. Obviously peened, and in true Gen2 fashion epoxied together – it'll last centuries I'm sure. My only REAL complaint on the grip, as I can't fault them for making a sword in their style, is that it is too long. Even to my hand, which is pretty average size, the grip could lose an inch and a quarter and still be comfortable. This overly long grip coupled with the short blade gives it an almost awkward look. According to the pictures, if the blade is 21'' long, that puts the grip at about 4'', though this one is about 5 ¼'' long. The entire hilt and pommel is over 7''.
The only other thing I'd change is that the blade is proportionally broader than the pictures of XIV.4 I was provided with for comparison. This, coupled with the long, thick grip, gives it a very stout look, almost as though it was at some point longer, but then got squished lengthwise.
If this sword were over $300 then I wouldn't be able to let pass the complaints I have. I would consider them acceptable at a price of around $200 - $250.
Overall Appearance Score: Meets expectations.
The blade features a fuller that extends from the guard out for about 2/3 the blade length. The fuller is clean and even, though if you look closely you can tell this is a hand forged sword. No arrow straight lines that are normally only obtained with a CNC mill. As seen in the photo below, the fuller almost completely disappears under the guard. The rounded ends of the fuller are still visible. This is one area I have suggested a change. To satisfy the purists in the crowd (kinda like me) I would suggest this be extended just slightly farther under the guard. But admittedly, this is certainly picking nits.
One of the distinctive features of this sword is the guard. It is a radically forward curved version of a typical cross guard on a European medieval sword. Note in the photo below how strongly forward the guard curves on both sides.
This provides for a functional guard that still remains unobtrusive while being carried on the belt during daily activities. I found this sword to be extremely comfortable to wear tucked into the belt. If coupled with a proper suspension system, this little sword would go pretty well unnoticed until you needed it.
This grip assembly is pretty much standard Gen2 fare. The black leather covering is tightly fit and a bit slippery when wet. The prototype has the commonly seen metal grip band, but only on the rear, whereas most swords from Gen2 have this band on both ends of the grip. Clyde tells me this will likely be eliminated on production models of this sword and I applaud him for that.
Another thing that's noticeable about this grip is its size, both length and circumference. The length of the grip is 5.25 inches. The grip specified on the original is 4.25 inches. I was going to suggest to Clyde that he shorten the grip by an inch, until he told me he had already instructed the forge to do just that. I also was going to suggest reducing the circumference of the grip. You can see in the photo below that my fingers (short and meaty though they be) won't quite wrap far enough around the grip for comfort and security. But then Clyde told me he'd already instructed the forge to make that change too. Starting to see a trend here?...
One change Clyde hadn't thought of...probably because he rushed the sword out to Adam and me before having much chance to work with it, was to round/radius the sharp edge of the pommel. While gripping the sword back near the pommel as would be the case if a 4.25 inch grip is used, I started to get a sore spot after working with it for about 20 minutes. While some may think this is nitpicking as well, this change will result in a much more comfortable sword. Not that it's a deal-breaker, as it would be no problem at all to correct with a little filing and sanding.
Appearance Score - Going with a 3 here. The overly long grip was the first thing I didn't like and it affect the looks as well as the handling. Definitely a 4 on the blade though. I really like the smooth satin look of the blade. That type finish is also much easier to maintain on a "using" sword and I just think it's lovely to boot.
Performance, Durability, and Handling:
It's a small sword, so one should expect it to be fairly light, but DANG. I've felt knives half this size feel heavier and more sluggish than this. Now as far as type XVI swords go, I haven't handled too many, so I'm not sure the norm, but I can tell you I could swing this all day effortlessly without getting tired. It's very easy to accelerate from the wrist, elbow, or shoulder, and changes directions very easily as well. There is plenty of tip control, as there should be on a sword like this, which is designed to both cut and thrust, but this sword just lets you know upon dry handling that it wants to cut. And it does. Very very well(more on that later).
All this being said, the sword feels alive and quick, though only a fool would forget the deadliness of it; and you can feel that just as easily as you can swing it. Gen2 has done a good job with it. More than light enough for even the most picky consumer, while still retaining good blade presence. In my opinion it is more lively and easier to make quick handling changes than the Roman Gladius of Kris Cutlery which is of similar dimensions.
When holding the blade still, one is aware of the mass of the blade – it's definitely beefy despite its shortness. However, as stated, the deep fuller and nice pommel very nicely balance this. Noting that the sword goes from having a fuller to a diamond cross section in the final third of the blade, it's obviously thicker near the tip, and so there is a good amount of mass there. This mass is what I believe to give the sword the property of making one want to cut with it by adding torque near the end of blade. A very well executed dynamic if you ask me, though I've felt better(not for this price though). It doesn't 'float' and could be improved, but considering how I'd expected a single-hand sword in this price-range to handle - there is nothing to say other than 'Very well done, Gen2'.
Handling Score – Outstanding
And now the meaty juicy part. The first thing I did with this sword is the age old 'paper-sharp' test. Lightly jab the point through a piece of newsprint, and draw the blade through and examine how clean the cut is. This sword does this test well with only minor paper jagginess, which initially let me to believe it is very sharp (though other swords of mine, particularly my shinken and a Cold Steel Grosse Messer) do give cleaner shears with less paper jaggies.
Upon feeling the edge with my bare skin (do not attempt at home), the edge feels good and solid, as if it would bite deep into whatever you're cutting. However, I very soon discovered that I could draw the blade across my arm or hand without suffering any laceration of my skin at all. Even letting the full weight of the sword rest on my arm as I draw it, and then even pushing a little. This gave me mixed feelings for how it would perform.
The first thing cut was the classic milk jug filled with water. Needless to say, it easily sliced clean through, very effortlessly. Thrusting was accomplished with similar facility. While this is a good opener, it really doesn't say too much about the actual performance of the sword.
So I bought some tatami and soaked it for a good 48 hours. Our loaned cutting stand had just been returned to it's owner, so we were without, and decided to do some cutting free-standing.
Unfortunately, I only had 3 mats, so we weren't able to test as much with tatami as I had hoped(there were other new swords in our possession that needed their fair share as well). But we made several nice ones, including a very very nice penetration. All on unsecured tatami. It should be noted that despite its very small stature, it was able to hold it's own in cutting right alongside the Cold Steel Grosse Messer, a recent acquisition of ours, and a monster of a blade with an amazingly sharp edge that just tears up everything we put in front of it. This should speak volumes about the quality of this little sword, that one friend of mine referred to as 'cute'.
The blade is stiff, and well tempered. I flexed it about 3 inches before stopping, and the blade I'm sure could take quite a bit more, but to be honest it took more effort than expected to flex it that far and so I'm satisfied with that. It's a very well made sword. Strong, with good cutting ability. Well-tempered and through hardened.
As an aside, this sword easily has one of the best edge geometries I've seen in this price range (no secondary bevel, YAY!). As stated it didn't feel sharp, but still cut well. This is due, in my opinion to the angle of the edge, the lack of a secondary bevel, and also subtle tapering of the edges combined with good handling characteristics. This also has the nice bonus of being a resilient edge – it doesn't need to be extremely sharp to perform well, and so has more meat in its edge that an otherwise sharper sword would, and so the edge is more reinforced due to that extra steel behind it, and so is theoretically very durable. VERY durable. Please understand I'm not saying the edge is blunt or that this is a club-like weapon for bashing on hard things - quite the contrary. It's a cutting sword, it's just one that knows what 'too sharp' is and stays away from that.
I'm not one to test destructively by bashing swords into metal poles or cinder blocks. But I've been around swords and knives and bladed weapons for nearly half of my life. And this sword makes it very easy to feel that it can take on a lot – and there's no need for me to try and prove it. Simple handling and light/medium cutting has more than demonstrated all this to me by how it feels performing the way it does. This would in most other cases result in an 'outstanding' score for durability, however as Gen2 is a company with a known reputation for durable swords - that's what this sword was intended to be, and therefore what I expected. Even still, it exceeded that expectation as I'm sure that this thing can take on more than what a historical sword would. I am more confident by leaps and bounds that this sword can take abuse, than I am about my Black Prince, also from Gen2.
Performance - Exceeds Expectations. Outstanding for Price.
Durability – Exceeds Expectations.
So here's the 800 lb gorilla in the room. Given past issues with hardness and some lemons getting out, I know everyone is dying to know...or at least mildly curious, about the blade's hardness and durability.
Well, this is a sample sword that Clyde is taking to some shows, so destructive testing was out of the question. Even some real abuse was not a possibility. However, Dan Davis did a stress and flex test. Then Dimytri looked it over with a critical eye. Then I cut some remnants of tatami mat and quite a few water bottles. And me being me...welll...I whacked the stand a time or three. Then I tested the edge with an edge flex test. The sword passed with flying colors. Here's a little video of the cutting, along with some slow motion that shows its performance in detail.
Another thing I noticed was that this sword didn't get scratches like some other Gen2 swords I own. Part may be due to the subdued polish on the blade, but I think hardness of the steel is the main factor. To prove this, I tapped the edge of the Riding Sword against the edge of my Gen2 12th Century Norman, which is known to be moderately soft. The Norman sword received a noticeable notch in the edge. The Knightly Riding sword is none the worse for it. Not even a noticeable nick or discoloration.
Handling Score - I am pretty set on 2 or 2.5 in handling, mostly because the grip is too long and too big around. With those things changed, the handling will improve drastically. I don't know without handling the next version, but I am betting at least a 4 for handling on that one.
Performance Score - This is a light sword. And it's short. But it cuts all out of proportion to its size. It is easy to cut with in spite of the girth of the grip and the fact that the grip length is a bit of a distraction. And of course, the very hard and durable blade bumps up the score in this category as well. I will have to put handling at a 3.5 and expect the improved production models to jump up to about 4-4.5 in the performance area. Who knows? Maybe even a 5 (perfect, can't get any better) is possible?
Historical Authenticity:
I've touched on this throughout the review so far, so this section will be brief. As I stated, I compare swords not with other swords, but with the sword it was intended to be. Unfortunately for this sword, that means I'm going to be harsher on it than I otherwise would. It is clear that swords of this proportion existed historically. The method of construction is mostly historical, though I'm not sure about the steel ring that separates pommel from grip. Also as I understand it, the grip is epoxied in place. This sword would have received an “Exceeds Expectations” in this category for the good tang and real peened pommel(rare in this price-bracket), had it not been an attempt at a direct reproduction of an existing sword. That being said, the differences are only too obvious. The blade is too wide, the grip too long. The steel ring anachronistic, etc.
Mirroring again what I've said earlier, Price too plays a part in this. For $250, this is acceptable, and that's the bracket this one is in – and swords of that cost are what I expect this to compete with. That's what I feel the price should be, that's how it feels to me, and the sword definitely meets my expectations for that price. The price ACTUALLY being only $220, this is a remarkable sword.
Historical Authenticity – Meets Expectations
Historical accuracy - whatever that is. Probably a 2, but with all the changes mentioned that would go to 4. To get a 5 this sword would need a better leather-over-cord looking wrap on the grip. But then it would probably look like a $500-800 sword. And that's not what it is.
Overall Score/Value for Money:
Value For Money - Exceeds Expectations.
Value For The Price - This is a pretty subjective area. To me, the production version is likely to be something I will shell out money for. I am not a big fan of short swords. I usually don't care for swords this small. But I really like this sword and I absolutely love the idea behind it. I think Clyde will have a real winner with the Knightly Riding Sword.