Windlass Towton Sword Review
Mar 31, 2019 7:10:51 GMT
Post by nddave on Mar 31, 2019 7:10:51 GMT
Windlass Towton Sword Review
Reviewed by, NDDave (David Burkhart) Emmett, ID
Hi everybody,
So I have a new sword that I'd like to show you and I'm actually quite excited as its a model and type I've had on my wish list for awhile now. Recently I sold my Hanwei Tinker Bastard Sword and with the loss of a sword in my collection, of course I needed to replace it. Originally I planned on simply swapping one Type XVIII for another and pick up a Windlass Arbedo. Though as I browsed through Kult of Athena's Medieval selection my eye kept leaning towards the Towton. It is a sword I've wanted since my focus on Medieval swords shifted in my earlier years here. Unfortunately it didn't last too long on the market by then as either soon after or during it was sadly discontinued by Windlass. Thanks to Kult of Athena bringing it back recently to the market through a special order from Windlass this sword, as well as the Arbedo are back. After nearly ten years of waiting it is in my hands. So on to the review, I hope you enjoy reading!
Historical overview
This sword is kind of an odd one to place historically. In design it's a obvious later period thrusting sword but Windlass sort of took some liberties with its blade type that could confuse the novice and dismay the purist. When these liberties are taken into account though the sword is easily classified and even explained. By blade type the sword more or less classifies as a Type XVII Longsword, with the hilt type being true to the Family E many Type XVII swords are exclusive to. As such I chose to classify the Towton as a Type XVII in the Oakeshott Typology.
The Type XVII was a very unique sword type compared to many of those in the Middle Ages. All of this type are longswords with long two handed grips and and long strongly tapering blade profiles. Some do have shorter blades, some even being only 30” long, though even these shorter blades still retain a two handed grip. What made the Type XVII unique was it's blade profile and its usage on the battlefield. These swords were meant to thrust and their design encompassed this strength. The thick hexagonal cross section and strongly tapering blade profile added the needed rigidness and fine acute point to competently trust into as well as bypass the various armors of the 14th and early 15th centuries this blade type was popular in.
It's close cousin in the Typology is the Type XV or more specifically the Type XVa subtype. As both have acutely tapering blades, the most of any sword type in the Typology. Though the defining characteristic of the XVII over the XVa is the hexagonal cross section, as opposed to the XVa’s diamond cross section. Even though the Type XVII’s primary was thrusting it was still capable of delivering deadly cuts. Though many in history were found to be heavy and overbuilt and unsuited for cutting. Those that weren't though were very light and lively swords that offered excellent offensive capabilities against the full plate armour that was reaching its height of battlefield use.
Full Disclosure
In disclosure I am not affiliated with Windlass Steelcrafts. This sword was purchased in full from the vendor Kult of Athena. I am not being paid for this review, I’m just a fellow sword loving forum member that enjoys reviewing and discussing swords here on this forum with it’s awesome community.
Initial Impressions
My first impressions definitely fell on its handling. This sword though long feels extremely lightweight in the hand. The point of balance is low and the weight is only around 2 and a half pounds. This makes for a sword though designed for two hands able to be easily wielded with one. The sword came in great shape from KultofAthena with only a few minor flaws that I will get to later in the review. The sword in design is very attractive as well with its long curving guard and long scent stopper pommel. The Grip has a nice waisted shape that is comfortable to hold and even though the grip is more or less hand and a half in length the long pommel adds to the gripping area for a slightly spaced two handed grip. The other thing that really caught my eye was how strongly tapering and attractive the blade profile is. Overall my first impressions were good and I really liked the sword.
Statistics
Overall Length: 44 ½”
Blade Length: 35 ¾”
Blade Width: base: 2” tapering to 1 ¼” in the midsection down to ¼” at the tip
Handle Length: 4 ½” of grip with grippable pommel 7” grip circumference: 3 ½”
Guard Length: 8 ½” width of quillons: ¼”× ¼”
Point of Balance: 3 ¾”
Weight: 2 ½ lbs.
The Blade
The blade as mentioned in the Historical section of the review is a or more so resembles a Type XVII in the Oakeshott Typology. Though there are some liberties as mentioned that I will focus on now. For one the fuller is too long to really be a type XVII as they tended to have a short fuller in the upper third of the blade if any at all. Now this is where I think Windlass sort of goofed in regards to designing this blade. This sword has a sister sword in their (also discontinued) Great Ouse River Sword. Both swords have the same blade. So in retrospect the Towton is in blade design also a replica of the Great Ouse River Sword.
Now to understand the goof all you need to do is look at the available photographs of the original Great Ouse River Sword. Look at the termination of the fuller and how in pictures it sort of blends into the hexagonal cross section. To an extent the photos trick your eye where it does look like one long fuller ending at where the cross section transitions to a diamond section at the tip. Now Since I believe Windlass based the design of this blade on photos of the original and not personal handling or viewing they were too tricked by the photos into believing this sword had in fact a long fuller. The other of course would be even without the goof, would Windlass have given this blade a proper cross section? It's hard to say as most Windlass swords come with a stock diamond cross section, no matter the original it's based on or the typology the blade is based. There are exceptions as a few of their swords do have hexagonal cross sections, like my Hero's Warsword which has a flattened hexagonal, as well as a few of their rapier models.
That aside let's focus now on this blade itself. It has the standard Windlass mirror polish with a strongly tapering blade ending with a finely executed tip. The blade starts quite broad at the base but tapers down fast, this really is a beautifully and elegantly profiled blade. The fuller is quite broad and well executed and the diamond section has a good straight and even ridge. There were no apparent blemishes or scratches to the finish and the blade is straight and true. The tip is where this blade stands out though it's so thin and acute that you'd think this sword was half rapier. The tip is even and shows no rolling or chips. The blade has a nice spring to it when flex tested returning true. A old reviews and impressions gave this sword a mark for being too flexible but I don't see it, at least with this sword. I will go into more detail with this later.
Overall this is a very attractive and well crafted blade that in my experience seems to be one of the best Windlass has designed, even if it doesn't exactly replicate the typology it's meant to represent.
The Handle
The handle is nicely shaped and is comfortable to hold. At only 4 ½” it is more or less a single handed grip but the shape of the pommel adds an additional 2 ½” of gripabble area to facilitate two hands. It has a nice waisted shape with a single riser set above where the grip tapers to meet the pommel. The leather is the standard Windlass black leather with stitching. Unfortunately this is where a few minor flaws reside as the stitching wasn't properly finished and the riser was poorly applied and is crooked. Obviously nothing too drastic as they are both simply cosmetic and the seam can be fixed or possibly even burnt down as the leather thread is intact just the cotton thread is unfinished.
Overall I wish this grip was longer but it doesn't really hurt handling and looks good. Thanks to the pommel there is plenty of grip for a second hand. Still much like I feel with the Roven a longer grip would suit the sword better.
The Guard
The guard is nicely shaped and well executed with no casting marks or blemishes. It is a Type 7 crossguard with lobed terminals. It almost has the appearance of a Type 9 but its square shape places it as a Type 7. It's quite thin and long adding to the elegance of this word's design. Overall a well designed and attractive guard.
The Pommel
The pommel is probably my favorite part of this sword. It is a beautifully crafted Type T.5 pommel that as mentioned earlier adds additional gripping area for a second hand. It has a threaded construction similar to the Roven with a external round nut compressing the hilt to the blade. Much like the Roven it is tight and holds everything in place with no shifting or loosening. The Pommel is thick and heavy and adds a good counterbalance keeping the point of balance low to the hilt. Overall a beautiful pommel and a new personal favorite after handling it.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is the usual Windlass leather with throat and chape. It's made of the semi-hard leather I've experienced with the Homildon and holds the blade well when upright. Unfortunately it has the usual Windlass flaw of not holding the sword securely upside down, as the sword will slide out. The stitching on the backside is well done and the throat and chape are attractive. The only real flaw with the scabbard is the throat is uneven and one side sticks up higher than the other, causing the sword to not sit flush at the guard. Obviously a easy fix with a file but still a little detering even if you know what to expect from a Windlass scabbard.
Handling Characteristics
This sword handles great! Its light, its fast and it's oh so fun to swing and thrust. It feels great either one or two handed and point control is amazing thanks to the point of balance. Half swording is a breeze and adds to its already intimidating thrusting capabilities.
Now some early reviews mentioned this sword to be “whippy” or too flexible in the thrust. Honestly from the few early tests I've done this sword is quite rigid and comparable to the likes of the Roven or Homildon Hill in rigidness. It does have a flex to it but not one that would be considered extreme or deterring from performance. For one early test I took three folded cardboard boxes and thrust through them. Even with the edges dulled it thrust cleanly through with no flex to the blade. Overall I personally love the handling and highly recommend this sword to anyone who favors a light fast handling sword.
Test Cutting
After sharpening this sword cut really well. Thrusts as I expected were pretty effortless and half swording was a breeze. This sword is very light and fast and is easy to cut with both one and two handed. As I tried to show in the video there is barely any flex or “whippyness” to the blade when in motion or thrusting. I was surprised how little flex the blade had when I held the blade out with the bottle on it. Overall this sword is a great cutter and offers great thrusting capabilities.
Conclusions
I must say Kult of Athena made a good choice when they chose to reissue the Towton on the market. It's a light fast sword that has a very attractive design. From a fantasy perspective you could even say it's similar in appearance to Glamdring from Lord of the Rings, minus the leafblade of course. It seems Windlass remedied many of the earlier complaints this sword initially had in regards to the blade being too flimsy. To an extent you could say Windlass already reissued this sword with a shorter blade in the Battlecry Agincourt as they both have similar blade profiles and hand and a half grips.
Pros
- Well forged blade of 1060 high carbon steel
- Light and agile in handling
- Attractive hilt and blade profile
- Great profile for thrusting
Cons
- Poor fitting scabbard
- Fit and Finish may be hit or miss at the price point
- Nut construction may an issue for those who prefer a peened pommel
Overall I am really impressed with this sword and feel anyone in the market for a good thrust oriented longsword would be happy with their purchase. There were a few minor cosmetic flaws out of the box but when those are compared to the price point, this sword is definitely a cut above others in the sub $300 price point.
Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed,
David
Reviewed by, NDDave (David Burkhart) Emmett, ID
Hi everybody,
So I have a new sword that I'd like to show you and I'm actually quite excited as its a model and type I've had on my wish list for awhile now. Recently I sold my Hanwei Tinker Bastard Sword and with the loss of a sword in my collection, of course I needed to replace it. Originally I planned on simply swapping one Type XVIII for another and pick up a Windlass Arbedo. Though as I browsed through Kult of Athena's Medieval selection my eye kept leaning towards the Towton. It is a sword I've wanted since my focus on Medieval swords shifted in my earlier years here. Unfortunately it didn't last too long on the market by then as either soon after or during it was sadly discontinued by Windlass. Thanks to Kult of Athena bringing it back recently to the market through a special order from Windlass this sword, as well as the Arbedo are back. After nearly ten years of waiting it is in my hands. So on to the review, I hope you enjoy reading!
Historical overview
This sword is kind of an odd one to place historically. In design it's a obvious later period thrusting sword but Windlass sort of took some liberties with its blade type that could confuse the novice and dismay the purist. When these liberties are taken into account though the sword is easily classified and even explained. By blade type the sword more or less classifies as a Type XVII Longsword, with the hilt type being true to the Family E many Type XVII swords are exclusive to. As such I chose to classify the Towton as a Type XVII in the Oakeshott Typology.
The Type XVII was a very unique sword type compared to many of those in the Middle Ages. All of this type are longswords with long two handed grips and and long strongly tapering blade profiles. Some do have shorter blades, some even being only 30” long, though even these shorter blades still retain a two handed grip. What made the Type XVII unique was it's blade profile and its usage on the battlefield. These swords were meant to thrust and their design encompassed this strength. The thick hexagonal cross section and strongly tapering blade profile added the needed rigidness and fine acute point to competently trust into as well as bypass the various armors of the 14th and early 15th centuries this blade type was popular in.
It's close cousin in the Typology is the Type XV or more specifically the Type XVa subtype. As both have acutely tapering blades, the most of any sword type in the Typology. Though the defining characteristic of the XVII over the XVa is the hexagonal cross section, as opposed to the XVa’s diamond cross section. Even though the Type XVII’s primary was thrusting it was still capable of delivering deadly cuts. Though many in history were found to be heavy and overbuilt and unsuited for cutting. Those that weren't though were very light and lively swords that offered excellent offensive capabilities against the full plate armour that was reaching its height of battlefield use.
Full Disclosure
In disclosure I am not affiliated with Windlass Steelcrafts. This sword was purchased in full from the vendor Kult of Athena. I am not being paid for this review, I’m just a fellow sword loving forum member that enjoys reviewing and discussing swords here on this forum with it’s awesome community.
Initial Impressions
My first impressions definitely fell on its handling. This sword though long feels extremely lightweight in the hand. The point of balance is low and the weight is only around 2 and a half pounds. This makes for a sword though designed for two hands able to be easily wielded with one. The sword came in great shape from KultofAthena with only a few minor flaws that I will get to later in the review. The sword in design is very attractive as well with its long curving guard and long scent stopper pommel. The Grip has a nice waisted shape that is comfortable to hold and even though the grip is more or less hand and a half in length the long pommel adds to the gripping area for a slightly spaced two handed grip. The other thing that really caught my eye was how strongly tapering and attractive the blade profile is. Overall my first impressions were good and I really liked the sword.
Statistics
Overall Length: 44 ½”
Blade Length: 35 ¾”
Blade Width: base: 2” tapering to 1 ¼” in the midsection down to ¼” at the tip
Handle Length: 4 ½” of grip with grippable pommel 7” grip circumference: 3 ½”
Guard Length: 8 ½” width of quillons: ¼”× ¼”
Point of Balance: 3 ¾”
Weight: 2 ½ lbs.
The Blade
The blade as mentioned in the Historical section of the review is a or more so resembles a Type XVII in the Oakeshott Typology. Though there are some liberties as mentioned that I will focus on now. For one the fuller is too long to really be a type XVII as they tended to have a short fuller in the upper third of the blade if any at all. Now this is where I think Windlass sort of goofed in regards to designing this blade. This sword has a sister sword in their (also discontinued) Great Ouse River Sword. Both swords have the same blade. So in retrospect the Towton is in blade design also a replica of the Great Ouse River Sword.
Now to understand the goof all you need to do is look at the available photographs of the original Great Ouse River Sword. Look at the termination of the fuller and how in pictures it sort of blends into the hexagonal cross section. To an extent the photos trick your eye where it does look like one long fuller ending at where the cross section transitions to a diamond section at the tip. Now Since I believe Windlass based the design of this blade on photos of the original and not personal handling or viewing they were too tricked by the photos into believing this sword had in fact a long fuller. The other of course would be even without the goof, would Windlass have given this blade a proper cross section? It's hard to say as most Windlass swords come with a stock diamond cross section, no matter the original it's based on or the typology the blade is based. There are exceptions as a few of their swords do have hexagonal cross sections, like my Hero's Warsword which has a flattened hexagonal, as well as a few of their rapier models.
That aside let's focus now on this blade itself. It has the standard Windlass mirror polish with a strongly tapering blade ending with a finely executed tip. The blade starts quite broad at the base but tapers down fast, this really is a beautifully and elegantly profiled blade. The fuller is quite broad and well executed and the diamond section has a good straight and even ridge. There were no apparent blemishes or scratches to the finish and the blade is straight and true. The tip is where this blade stands out though it's so thin and acute that you'd think this sword was half rapier. The tip is even and shows no rolling or chips. The blade has a nice spring to it when flex tested returning true. A old reviews and impressions gave this sword a mark for being too flexible but I don't see it, at least with this sword. I will go into more detail with this later.
Overall this is a very attractive and well crafted blade that in my experience seems to be one of the best Windlass has designed, even if it doesn't exactly replicate the typology it's meant to represent.
The Handle
The handle is nicely shaped and is comfortable to hold. At only 4 ½” it is more or less a single handed grip but the shape of the pommel adds an additional 2 ½” of gripabble area to facilitate two hands. It has a nice waisted shape with a single riser set above where the grip tapers to meet the pommel. The leather is the standard Windlass black leather with stitching. Unfortunately this is where a few minor flaws reside as the stitching wasn't properly finished and the riser was poorly applied and is crooked. Obviously nothing too drastic as they are both simply cosmetic and the seam can be fixed or possibly even burnt down as the leather thread is intact just the cotton thread is unfinished.
Overall I wish this grip was longer but it doesn't really hurt handling and looks good. Thanks to the pommel there is plenty of grip for a second hand. Still much like I feel with the Roven a longer grip would suit the sword better.
The Guard
The guard is nicely shaped and well executed with no casting marks or blemishes. It is a Type 7 crossguard with lobed terminals. It almost has the appearance of a Type 9 but its square shape places it as a Type 7. It's quite thin and long adding to the elegance of this word's design. Overall a well designed and attractive guard.
The Pommel
The pommel is probably my favorite part of this sword. It is a beautifully crafted Type T.5 pommel that as mentioned earlier adds additional gripping area for a second hand. It has a threaded construction similar to the Roven with a external round nut compressing the hilt to the blade. Much like the Roven it is tight and holds everything in place with no shifting or loosening. The Pommel is thick and heavy and adds a good counterbalance keeping the point of balance low to the hilt. Overall a beautiful pommel and a new personal favorite after handling it.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is the usual Windlass leather with throat and chape. It's made of the semi-hard leather I've experienced with the Homildon and holds the blade well when upright. Unfortunately it has the usual Windlass flaw of not holding the sword securely upside down, as the sword will slide out. The stitching on the backside is well done and the throat and chape are attractive. The only real flaw with the scabbard is the throat is uneven and one side sticks up higher than the other, causing the sword to not sit flush at the guard. Obviously a easy fix with a file but still a little detering even if you know what to expect from a Windlass scabbard.
Handling Characteristics
This sword handles great! Its light, its fast and it's oh so fun to swing and thrust. It feels great either one or two handed and point control is amazing thanks to the point of balance. Half swording is a breeze and adds to its already intimidating thrusting capabilities.
Now some early reviews mentioned this sword to be “whippy” or too flexible in the thrust. Honestly from the few early tests I've done this sword is quite rigid and comparable to the likes of the Roven or Homildon Hill in rigidness. It does have a flex to it but not one that would be considered extreme or deterring from performance. For one early test I took three folded cardboard boxes and thrust through them. Even with the edges dulled it thrust cleanly through with no flex to the blade. Overall I personally love the handling and highly recommend this sword to anyone who favors a light fast handling sword.
Test Cutting
After sharpening this sword cut really well. Thrusts as I expected were pretty effortless and half swording was a breeze. This sword is very light and fast and is easy to cut with both one and two handed. As I tried to show in the video there is barely any flex or “whippyness” to the blade when in motion or thrusting. I was surprised how little flex the blade had when I held the blade out with the bottle on it. Overall this sword is a great cutter and offers great thrusting capabilities.
Conclusions
I must say Kult of Athena made a good choice when they chose to reissue the Towton on the market. It's a light fast sword that has a very attractive design. From a fantasy perspective you could even say it's similar in appearance to Glamdring from Lord of the Rings, minus the leafblade of course. It seems Windlass remedied many of the earlier complaints this sword initially had in regards to the blade being too flimsy. To an extent you could say Windlass already reissued this sword with a shorter blade in the Battlecry Agincourt as they both have similar blade profiles and hand and a half grips.
Pros
- Well forged blade of 1060 high carbon steel
- Light and agile in handling
- Attractive hilt and blade profile
- Great profile for thrusting
Cons
- Poor fitting scabbard
- Fit and Finish may be hit or miss at the price point
- Nut construction may an issue for those who prefer a peened pommel
Overall I am really impressed with this sword and feel anyone in the market for a good thrust oriented longsword would be happy with their purchase. There were a few minor cosmetic flaws out of the box but when those are compared to the price point, this sword is definitely a cut above others in the sub $300 price point.
Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed,
David