Tinker Early Medieval Sword Replacement Blade

Description of the Product

These blades have been designed as replacement parts for the Tinker Early Medieval Sword, and they do not come with hilt, guard or pommel parts. The blunt sparring blade may be used either to replace a severely worn sparring blade, or to convert a sharp version to a sparring format. The sharp replacement blade will enable owners of the blunt version to convert their sword to a cutting sword quickly and easily. Both versions can of course also be used as a basis for building your own sword. After all fashioning your own guard, hilt and pommel may be more manageable to start with, than forging your own blade.

These blades are for a single-hand sword and conform to an Oakeshott Type XII. Oakeshott describes this type as having a broad, flat, evenly tapering blade and a good sharp point. A large number of these swords have survived; a true testament to their popularity. The type XII blade is found in many classical medieval swords, all the way from the 11th century until the early 15th century, but examples as early as the Viking Era can be seen. This type sword is prevalent also in medieval art, especially in the Maciejowski Bible (c.1250).

The sharp version has a 2/3 fuller with a flattened diamond section out towards the tip. The fuller in the blunt version is broader so as to move the steel mass towards the edges for safety. Many of the illustrations in the Royal Armouries Manuscript I.33 can be interpreted as being of Type XII design, which makes the blunt version an exceptional match for I.33 sword and buckler practice. The sharp version is right at home in the back yard, cutting water bottles and other targets. They are both fast and agile, yet with enough presence and a sense of functional purpose.

Please note that some adjustment or filing with a metal file may be required in order to fit the replacement blade onto your pre-existing sword. In quality swords the tolerances are quite small, and pieces are hand-made to fit together very precisely, so that for example the shoulder of the blade would be exactly the same size as the corresponding slot in the guard.  The smiths make each piece to be as close to identical as possible, but as they are hand-made, some variation is inevitable. These replacement blades have been left to the original size on purpose, so that the fitting will be as close and tight as possible. If they were slightly thinner or narrower, they would slide in without any bother, but the hilt construction might as a result be slightly loose and potentially rattly.

• Available as a sharp or a blunt version
• Made as a replacement blade for the Tinker Early Medieval Sword, hilt parts not included
• Choose yours: sharp for cutting practice or blunt for safe training
• Designed by Michael Tinker Pearce
• Sharp: total length 97,1 cm, tang 16,5 cm, weight 760 g
• Blunt: total length 97,4 cm, tang 16,4 cm, weight 780 g
• Blade material: 5160 Spring steel
• Made by Hanwei
• Sharpness: Sharp or Blunt

About the Tinker Peace Line:

Hanwei commissioned Michael ‘Tinker’ Pearce to design a line of swords that will satisfy both the sparring and cutting needs of Historical European Martial Arts practitioners. In this collection you get authentic and genuine pieces that are based on historical designs, but made with modern techniques and materials to make them as strong as possible.

These swords are offered either blunt or sharpened, so you can choose whether you need one for cutting practice and authenticity or one for training, HEMA-combat and reenactment. Either way you get one of the finest modern medieval swords on the market with impressive handling.

The creator of these fine weapons is Michael Tinker Pearce, a noted maker of custom medieval swords, whose pieces have a long-standing reputation for durability and overall performance. He has studied swords for over thirty years and has been instrumental in making features such as authentic weight and balance as industry standards. His research and broad-based training has enabled him to understand both how swords were used by those who depended their lives on them, as well as the needs of modern re-enactors and martial artists.

These swords meet Tinkers quality requirements. Each blade is forged from 5160 Spring Steel, and is tempered to a hardness of 50-53 Hrc and the tang to the low 30s Hrc. For the Medieval models the very end of the tang is threaded. The pommel has a recess to fit the hexagonal nut to secure and tighten the hilt. This allows the hilt to be easily dismantled for inspection, customization, and to exchange blades if needed. The sharp and blunt blades are interchangeable on all the medieval models. The blades are intended for full on sparring, but may be replaced if needed, further reducing the long-term cost of these swords. The Viking Sword sharps and blunts are peened for historical authenticity and to meet the needs of collector and reenactment groups.