The Sempach

(Oakeshott Type XVII)

This style of type XVII sword is named after the battle of Sempach in 1386. Two such weapons were found in the graves of two Austrian knights that fell in that battle. A characteristic feature of this type of sword is its very stiff blade of hexagonal section. They are always of hand and a half proportions, sometimes almost two hand size but often smaller. There is often a fuller along the first third of the blade. This was a period when armor was at its heaviest and most massive, thus swords had to be made that were both robust and powerful. The thrust might have been the most effective attack when using a sword against a heavily armored foe and so the point is always strong on these weapons. Although being oriented for the thrust, these swords can show surprisingly good performance as cutters as well. The more agile members of this family of swords have very attractive handling characteristics, being responsive while having a strong authority in the cut and precise point control. This is what we have aimed for in the making of this sword: An agile weapon that shows the same functional beauty as its predecessors. Strangely, it is rare to see this prominent type among modern replicas. This classic late 14th C. sword offers a unique opportunity for any collector interested in the European medieval sword. The Sempach style has a very typical pommel shape: a substantial wedge of hexagonal or octagonal section. There are usually decorative shallow grooves on the top face, adding elegance to the massive shape. Oakeshott names this type T2 and dates it to the period 1360-1420.

Specifications
Overall length: 45.875″ (116.21 cm)
Blade length: 36″ (92 cm)
Blade width: 1.9″ (4.8 cm)
CoG: 4.5″ (11.43 cm)
CoP: 22″ (55.9 cm)
Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kilos)
This sword is a limited edition of 1000 swords worldwide.