Edward the black prince sword

Upon first glance, the overall design of the Black Prince doesn't give the first impression of the war sword that it really is. But the date of the original sword circa is a time when plate armour was becoming more commonplace on battlefields, rendering the earlier Type XIIa and Type XIIIa blades potentially less useful. When viewed from the side, one can see that the Black Prince's distal taper is by no means machine perfect, but is executed extremely well.

The profile taper of its Type XVa blade is outstanding and complements the near-perfect spine that runs the length of blade, showing a profound diamond cross-section when viewed downward from the tip.

Edward the black prince sword: The Darksword Armory Black Prince sword

The guard and pommel show very slight imperfections that can only be spotted with close examination. Such observations should not be seen as flaws, but rather as traits of a hand-made object which is exactly what this one is and the original was. The leather stitching on the one side is quite visible, but very secure and is not a hindrance when wielding this sword.

The sword also perfectly fit the scabbard at the tomb, and the corrosion on the pommel and blade was identical to that of the other pieces of the Prince's armor.

Edward the black prince sword: Black Prince sword was given

As Oakeshott writes in Records of the Medieval Sword pg. In the late 's, while visiting Ewart and Sybil Oakeshott at their Salisbury home, Christopher Poor and Craig Johnson of Arms and Armor, had the opportunity to handle, measure, and take notes on the characteristics of the original sword. When Ewart was in failing health he worked with Christopher to found The Oakeshott Institute in the United States, to which he bequeathed his personal collection of swords.

Whether one or both of these are decorations or a means of attaching a chain to keep the helm from being lost is unclear. A striking feature is the inclusion of an imposing heraldic crest in the form of a leopard a royal symbol of England to this day. Made of molded leather, it is covered with gilt and painted gesso a substance like plaster used as a sort of primer for surfaces to be paintedmuch of which has not survived the ages.

The effigy shows a drape covering the back of the helm that doesn't appear to have survived. A pair of hourglass gauntlets survives as well. Said to be made of gilt latten or copper, they are among the finer surviving gauntlets of the era. The finger plates survive on some digits and show spikes over the finger joints. A single removable gadling ornaments attached to the gauntlets that act similarly to the modern brass knuckle in the form of a leopard survives.

Also displaying the heraldry of the Black Prince is his heater shield whose lack of strapping indicates it was likely made for his funeral. Made of poplar, it is covered with layers of canvas, gesso, parchment, and leather. The face is decorated with leopards and fleurs de lys, the arms of England and France that Edward III took when he staked his claim to the French throne, and punched crosses.

The surviving coat armour would have been a proud symbol of status and wealth in its original condition. Made of velvet stuffed with wool and lined with satinit featured the red and blue quarterly arms seen on the shield. It laces up the front with eyelets and appears to have originally had long sleeves, though its sleeves currently reach only to the elbow.

Edward the black prince sword: A Classic Longsword. Based

This popularity was surely affected when a sword that was discovered in the mid 20th century was identified by Ewart Oakeshott as the Sword of the Black Prince. The sword has a long, tapered diamond shaped blade that is ideally suited for thrusting, while still remaining able to make powerful cuts. The hilt itself is extremely attractive and authentic, with a blackened mild steel crossguard and genuine leather wrap handle.

The handle is elongated to provide more leverage, which in combination with the large pommel results in excellent tip control. The original has a Type XVa blade, which is faithfully reproduced here. The pommel and guard are how the original would have appeared in Edwards hands.

Edward the black prince sword: This sword is essentially a dedicated

Click here for the full review and destructive testing results on SBG This sword comes with a wood core scabbard as standard with the option to upgrade it to include a premium quality sword belt with suspension system - allowing it to be worn or for an extra flourish when not in use hung on the wall see below for a comparison. Full tang construction.

Sturdy blades able to be used for steel on steel contact or sharpened for frequent cutting practice.