Medieval Tewkesbury Sword, 15th c.

Medieval Tewkesbury Sword, 15th c.

The Wars of the Roses, waged between 1455 and 1485, were a series of battles for the English crown between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Both families were members of the same European royal dynasty, the Plantagenets, who had been ruling over England for the last three centuries. These civil wars (punctuated by short episodes of relative peace) owe their name to the rivaling families' respective emblem, a white rose for the Yorkists and a red one for the Lancastrians. After 30 years of political scheming and terrible bloodsheds, the family feud ultimately led to the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the rise of the House of Tudor.

The Battle of Tewkesbury, fought on the May 4, 1471, was a decisive Yorkist victory which saw the death of the young Lancastrian heir, Prince Edward of Wales, and completely established King Edward IV on the throne. It marked the beginning of England's longest spell of political stability in this multi-generational conflict, which however immediately reignited upon Edward IV's death in 1483.

The long, double-edged blade is forged out of hardened and tempered EN45 spring steel. It gently tapers towards the pointed tip and is fullered for about half of its length on both sides, with a flattened diamond cross-section out to the point. The edges are not sharpened and the blade's full tang is screwed to the pommel.

The hilt is composed of wooden core grip wrapped in black leather, a flattened steel cross guard and an elongated hexagonal scent-stopper pommel, also made of steel, with slightly concave facets and a recessed cross on one side. The guard is about 23cm long and 0.5cm thick. Its quillons have flared terminals, each decorated with a cross-shaped cut-out.

This late medieval hand-and-a-half sword comes complete with a black wood-and-leather scabbard with blued steel throat and chape.

Please note that this sword is not a battle ready weapon. It is designed as a collector's or decoration/display piece and is not suited for combat reenactment. Besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume. The same sword is also available as a practical blunt, fighting version with thicker edges and rounded tip (Product No. 0116337106).

Specifications:

• Material: EN45 spring steel (high carbon steel, not stainless), mild steel guard and pommel, leather- wrapped wooden handle
• Overall length: approx. 118cm
• Blade length: approx. 90cm
• Hilt length: approx. 25cm (grip approx. 19cm)
• Max. blade width: approx. 5.5cm
• Point of balance: approx. 12.5cm from the guard
• Incl. wooden scabbard with genuine leather cover and steel fittings
• Weight without scabbard: approx. 1.8 kg
• Weight with scabbard: approx. 2.4 kg

Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.

The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade and the scabbard on a regular basis, for example using Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.