Tinker Longsword

Description of the Product

Tinker Longswords provide the HEMA-practitioner with a fast, well-balanced pair of swords that will perform beautifully in skilled hands. The Blunt Trainer features nearly identical handling to that of its sharp companion.
This two-handed longsword features an Oakeshott type XVIIIa blade. Although as a blade type it spans a much wider time period the XVIII and its sub-types were the most widely used swords for a century, from 1410 to 1510. This period was marked by the latter part of the Hundred Years’ War, Agincourt, the War of the Roses and the beginning of the Italian Wars. In short the heyday of the medieval armoured knight.

The XVIIIa blade has typically a narrow fuller running about 1/3 of its length, and a flattened diamond section from the fuller out to the tip. The blade has a gradual profile and distal tapering, which means it has fantastic cutting and thrusting abilities. The sharp blade has the right stiffness for cutting strokes and the blunt has enough flex for safe sparring. The sharp blade has a quick profile for thrusts. The blunt blade has 2 mm thick edges and a rounded tip for safe sparring practice. Powerful yet light, fast yet sturdy, these Tinker longswords satisfy the need of every HEMA-practitioner and sword enthusiast to have a matching set of sharp and blunt swords.

The flattened scent-stopper pommel (Type T-1) forms a natural extension of the wooden beveled rectangular double-hand grip. This type of grip helps when practicing, as you are always aware of the edges of the blade. The handle has a wood core wrapped with string and covered with leather. The cross-guard made of steel is square.

The 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 re-tightened or dismantled for inspection, customization and to exchange blades if needed. The wooden leather covered scabbard is included, and has steel chape and throat.

• Available as both sharp and blunt -versions
• Choose yours: sharp for cutting practice or blunt for safe training
• Oakeshott type XVIIIa blade
• Blade type XVIII and its sub-types were the most widely used from 1410 to 1510
• Wooden leather covered scabbard with steel chape and throat included
• Overall length: 119.5 cm
• Blade length: 85 cm
• Handle length: 30.5 cm
• Weight: 1.3 kg
• Point of balance from the guard: 8.9 cm
• Width at Guard: 5.4 cm
• Width at Tip: 1.9 cm
• Thickness at Guard: 6.4 mm
• Thickness at Tip: 2.3 mm
• Blade material: 5160 Spring steel
• Sharpness: Sharp or Blunt
• Manufacturer: Hanwei

Specs can vary slightly from piece to piece.

About 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. Every Tinker Pearce sword is a fully functional, battle-ready blade.

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.