DSA 15th Century Gothic Sword review
Aug 25, 2015 0:24:50 GMT
Post by hoplos on Aug 25, 2015 0:24:50 GMT
Introduction
I bought my Darksword Armory 15th Century Gothic Sword from Kult of Athena:
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DSA1525BR_OLD&name=Darksword+15th+Century+Gothic+Sword+-+Old+Version
Stats (my own measurements):
Blade length, hilt to tip: 33-3/4 inches
Grip length, excluding pommel: 7-1/2 inches
Pommel, from peen to end of grip: 2-1/2 inches
Cross width: 9-9/16 inches
Cross "thickness" (top of grip to beginning of blade): 5/16 of an inch
Overall length: 45-1/16
Weight: Don't have a scale so posted KOA stats should suffice. Feels like 3lbs/120z is correct.
Blade width at base: 3-1/16 inches
Blade width at approx COP: 1-1/2 inches
COP: Approximately 21 inches forward.
Iconic.
The main thing that drew me to this blade was the dramatic blade profile. The wide forte and flair at the shoulders gives way to the eccentric, almost concave profile taper in the middle and foible portions, which, combined with the longer grip, wide, upturned cross and classic wheel presents an imposing blade that looks needle like and massive at the same time. It looks to me like something that would appear in Orthodox iconography being wielded by a saint or an angel. A large, righteous, blade of smiting.
For reference, I stand a half inch over 6' and weigh about 235 lbs at the time of the photo.
A righteous blade of smiting.
Historical Overview
From the reading that I did around the time of purchase of this blade, and the actual product description by Darksword, this blade would be in the XVIIIC category, or at least an interpretation of it if not 100% faithful to the version in the Metropolitan Museum of Art that it is based on. I believe that reasonable analogues in the production sword market would be Albion's Alexandria and Principe swords, as well as one of Peter Johnsson's swords (made independent from Albion). I'll qualify that by saying that the comparison is true as far as they are production swords based on the same type, and, I believe, the same historic example.
Original in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/23189 (Thanks Timo)
A Peter Johnson blade: www.peterjohnsson.com/italian-15th-c-sword-of-war/
This Darksword Armory blade does seem to stray a little bit in that the blade, in profile, tapers inwards on both edges, giving a slightly convave appearance, where the XVIIIC drawings, Albion examples, and the MET historic example have more of a convex profile. To my mind and ever evolving understanding of sword types, this does not automatically make the blade a-historical, and in fact the makers may have had a different agenda when designing it, but it is worth noting the difference.
The blade does not feauture a great deal of distal taper. I don't have calipers, but the KOA measurements seem realistic. The point, remaining fairly thick with the relative (but not horrible) lack of taper, seems like it would facilitate the execution of a thrust into hard targets like maille voiders or thick linen and be forgiving of thrusts into unintended mediums like plate or a pell. The tip is not awl shaped, but flat like the rest of the blade, and probably cuts fairly well.
Hallowed point.
Fit and Finish
My blade arrived with a Kult of Athena edge on it. The bevel is clean, uniform, and attractive. I haven't cut with this sword, and don't intend to, but I feel like it would be a decent cutter with the existing edge, and with some detail work by the right hands, probably a monster of a slasher. As it is right now, the edge is just shy of the standard of easily cut a free hanging sheet of 8x11-1/2 sheet of copier paper, but will do so if you really work for it.
The Edge of the World Still Known to a Few.
The guard and pommel are made from some kind of mild steel. The guard has an attractive, smooth satin finish. The pommel finish matches the blade, which is still a brushed type of finish but not quite as subdued. In person, they look and feel very solid and attractive. There are some minor tool marks on the guard, which I personally like. The hilt appears peened to the pommel. It is my understanding that this may not be a hot peen and some sort of hybrid. I can only assume that this model follows with what has been discovered of their peening in the past. The visible portion of the peen is tidy with some slight hammer marks.
For smiting and pummeling thine foe.
The grip is eliptical in cross section, solid, and tightly wrapped. The stitching on the seam is well done and prominent, and contributes to the "munitions grade", no frills feel of the overall sword. The sword is fairly ponderous in one hand, but there is ample room for two along the stout grip. I like gripping the wheel pommel which, gives me a little more felt leverage and helps as an index for blade alignment.
Two hands recommended.
The center ridge of the diamond cross section blade is not extremely prominent, this being a very wide and flat blade, and runs fairly straight up the middle. There are slight ripples on both sides of the blade, which is wide and very flat, but fairly stiff. Held horizontally, I can't see any droop.
The scabbard is attractive and simple, and functional except that it does not grip the blade at all. I imagine that with a little creativity, shims could be manufactured and installed to turn it into a fully functional scabbard. The wood core and leather wrapping are simple but seem like they would hold up to casual wear and use.
Rock steady.
The overall aesthetic is that of a large, robust, and reasonably finished sword made for smiting. Hilt construction feels very solid, and the blade feels springy but rigid at the same time. There is some gap between the guard and the blade, but no rattling or looseness is present in any way. Very tight and solid. Confidence inspiring and rugged is the feeling of this blade visually and in hand.
Handling
This is a heavy sword, and, as mentioned, there isn't a great deal of distal taper. I wouldn't call it a sharpened crowbar, though. It definitely needs two hands on foot. I have moved it through the guards I know, and it doesn't feel terrible, but not super fast, either. I know nothing of fighting on horseback, but it seems like it would be hell on wheels used single handed in broad, scything strokes, using its momentum to follow through and return for another strike.
It feels like what it looks like, is probably the best way I can put it with my limited knowledge and skill set. The blade is there and it feels like it wants to hew. I'm not sure how to assess the pivot point, but it does not feel like it is at the tip. At the same time, the tip does not feel uncontrollable. Not extremely nimble, but not clumsy, either...A smiter and piercer of foes.
Conclusion
A nice blade. Several months later, I am still very pleased with the purchase, and hearing now that DSA has made some changes to their production materials and processes has had me considering the Two Handed Gothic Sword as well. This piece is well made, and I really hope to see some more models like this and the Two Handed Gothic Sword that are directly based on extant historic pieces, or even in the realm of "definitely could have existed". If you find one of these on the second hand market or existing stock that is being sold out from a vendor, I recommend it if it's in the 300-400 USD range.
Pros:
-Solid construction
-Robust blade and hilt components
-Simple, well done, no frills aesthetic
-Handles reasonably well
-Feels like a strong cutter that can still thrust
Cons:
-Distal taper somewhat lacking
-Could be more balanced
-Scabbard is included but does not hold the sword against gravity
Submitted for your approval. Vis et Honor
I bought my Darksword Armory 15th Century Gothic Sword from Kult of Athena:
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DSA1525BR_OLD&name=Darksword+15th+Century+Gothic+Sword+-+Old+Version
Stats (my own measurements):
Blade length, hilt to tip: 33-3/4 inches
Grip length, excluding pommel: 7-1/2 inches
Pommel, from peen to end of grip: 2-1/2 inches
Cross width: 9-9/16 inches
Cross "thickness" (top of grip to beginning of blade): 5/16 of an inch
Overall length: 45-1/16
Weight: Don't have a scale so posted KOA stats should suffice. Feels like 3lbs/120z is correct.
Blade width at base: 3-1/16 inches
Blade width at approx COP: 1-1/2 inches
COP: Approximately 21 inches forward.
Iconic.
The main thing that drew me to this blade was the dramatic blade profile. The wide forte and flair at the shoulders gives way to the eccentric, almost concave profile taper in the middle and foible portions, which, combined with the longer grip, wide, upturned cross and classic wheel presents an imposing blade that looks needle like and massive at the same time. It looks to me like something that would appear in Orthodox iconography being wielded by a saint or an angel. A large, righteous, blade of smiting.
For reference, I stand a half inch over 6' and weigh about 235 lbs at the time of the photo.
A righteous blade of smiting.
Historical Overview
From the reading that I did around the time of purchase of this blade, and the actual product description by Darksword, this blade would be in the XVIIIC category, or at least an interpretation of it if not 100% faithful to the version in the Metropolitan Museum of Art that it is based on. I believe that reasonable analogues in the production sword market would be Albion's Alexandria and Principe swords, as well as one of Peter Johnsson's swords (made independent from Albion). I'll qualify that by saying that the comparison is true as far as they are production swords based on the same type, and, I believe, the same historic example.
Original in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/23189 (Thanks Timo)
A Peter Johnson blade: www.peterjohnsson.com/italian-15th-c-sword-of-war/
This Darksword Armory blade does seem to stray a little bit in that the blade, in profile, tapers inwards on both edges, giving a slightly convave appearance, where the XVIIIC drawings, Albion examples, and the MET historic example have more of a convex profile. To my mind and ever evolving understanding of sword types, this does not automatically make the blade a-historical, and in fact the makers may have had a different agenda when designing it, but it is worth noting the difference.
The blade does not feauture a great deal of distal taper. I don't have calipers, but the KOA measurements seem realistic. The point, remaining fairly thick with the relative (but not horrible) lack of taper, seems like it would facilitate the execution of a thrust into hard targets like maille voiders or thick linen and be forgiving of thrusts into unintended mediums like plate or a pell. The tip is not awl shaped, but flat like the rest of the blade, and probably cuts fairly well.
Hallowed point.
Fit and Finish
My blade arrived with a Kult of Athena edge on it. The bevel is clean, uniform, and attractive. I haven't cut with this sword, and don't intend to, but I feel like it would be a decent cutter with the existing edge, and with some detail work by the right hands, probably a monster of a slasher. As it is right now, the edge is just shy of the standard of easily cut a free hanging sheet of 8x11-1/2 sheet of copier paper, but will do so if you really work for it.
The Edge of the World Still Known to a Few.
The guard and pommel are made from some kind of mild steel. The guard has an attractive, smooth satin finish. The pommel finish matches the blade, which is still a brushed type of finish but not quite as subdued. In person, they look and feel very solid and attractive. There are some minor tool marks on the guard, which I personally like. The hilt appears peened to the pommel. It is my understanding that this may not be a hot peen and some sort of hybrid. I can only assume that this model follows with what has been discovered of their peening in the past. The visible portion of the peen is tidy with some slight hammer marks.
For smiting and pummeling thine foe.
The grip is eliptical in cross section, solid, and tightly wrapped. The stitching on the seam is well done and prominent, and contributes to the "munitions grade", no frills feel of the overall sword. The sword is fairly ponderous in one hand, but there is ample room for two along the stout grip. I like gripping the wheel pommel which, gives me a little more felt leverage and helps as an index for blade alignment.
Two hands recommended.
The center ridge of the diamond cross section blade is not extremely prominent, this being a very wide and flat blade, and runs fairly straight up the middle. There are slight ripples on both sides of the blade, which is wide and very flat, but fairly stiff. Held horizontally, I can't see any droop.
The scabbard is attractive and simple, and functional except that it does not grip the blade at all. I imagine that with a little creativity, shims could be manufactured and installed to turn it into a fully functional scabbard. The wood core and leather wrapping are simple but seem like they would hold up to casual wear and use.
Rock steady.
The overall aesthetic is that of a large, robust, and reasonably finished sword made for smiting. Hilt construction feels very solid, and the blade feels springy but rigid at the same time. There is some gap between the guard and the blade, but no rattling or looseness is present in any way. Very tight and solid. Confidence inspiring and rugged is the feeling of this blade visually and in hand.
Handling
This is a heavy sword, and, as mentioned, there isn't a great deal of distal taper. I wouldn't call it a sharpened crowbar, though. It definitely needs two hands on foot. I have moved it through the guards I know, and it doesn't feel terrible, but not super fast, either. I know nothing of fighting on horseback, but it seems like it would be hell on wheels used single handed in broad, scything strokes, using its momentum to follow through and return for another strike.
It feels like what it looks like, is probably the best way I can put it with my limited knowledge and skill set. The blade is there and it feels like it wants to hew. I'm not sure how to assess the pivot point, but it does not feel like it is at the tip. At the same time, the tip does not feel uncontrollable. Not extremely nimble, but not clumsy, either...A smiter and piercer of foes.
Conclusion
A nice blade. Several months later, I am still very pleased with the purchase, and hearing now that DSA has made some changes to their production materials and processes has had me considering the Two Handed Gothic Sword as well. This piece is well made, and I really hope to see some more models like this and the Two Handed Gothic Sword that are directly based on extant historic pieces, or even in the realm of "definitely could have existed". If you find one of these on the second hand market or existing stock that is being sold out from a vendor, I recommend it if it's in the 300-400 USD range.
Pros:
-Solid construction
-Robust blade and hilt components
-Simple, well done, no frills aesthetic
-Handles reasonably well
-Feels like a strong cutter that can still thrust
Cons:
-Distal taper somewhat lacking
-Could be more balanced
-Scabbard is included but does not hold the sword against gravity
Submitted for your approval. Vis et Honor