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Albion Armorers Next Generation Yeoman Sword A hands-on review by Felix Reich Oakeshott Type XIV swords are shown quite often in artwork and by their appearance there can be dated most often between 1275 and 1340. Examples appear in both the Maciejowski Bible and the Romance of Alexander. The main features are a short grip paired with a comparatively short blade which is generally broad at the hilt and often tapering to an acute point that usually has a flat cross-section. This type of blade is put into the first of two larger groups by Ewart Oakeshott (the first group comprised of Type X through Type XIV), which he defines as being flat, light blades primarily designed for cutting. In the time when mail was most prevalent good cutting ability was needed, but with more and more reinforcements added to the armour thrusting into vulnerable sections was also becoming more essential. While points of earlier blade designs were more spatulate or had "adequate" or "good" points as in the designs of Type XIII, Type XI, and Type XII, respectively, it is with Type XIV blades that the sharp or acute point appears. This feature which is seen later on in Oakeshott's second group of swords (beginning with Type XV). These later swords were designed to defeat much more evolved plate armour by thrusting into gaps. Overview Type XIV swords used to be somewhat scarce on the reproduction market. It is interesting to see that Albion Armorers of Wisconsin offers three swords of this type in their Next Generation lineup. The Yeoman and the Sherriff sport the same blade while the Sovereign has a double-fullered blade. The design of these swords is strongly influenced by a sword in the Could not connect to link database |
