New Windlass Coustille -- myArmoury.com

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Thu 27 Sep, 2007 7:09 am Post subject:

The Old and New Coustilles are very different and I have some numbers to share.

http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/display3.JPG

The Old Coustille (OC) and the New Coustille (NC) both have blades that are 16 3/4" long and 2" wide at the widest part next to the crossguard but thats where the similarities end.
The OC blade is wider and heavier than the NC along it length making it forward heavy and more like a sword than a dagger.
The Fuller is 10 1/4'" long from the crossguard on the OC and 12 1/2" on the NC adding to the weight on the older piece.
Both crossguards are 5" across but very different in style and feel. The handle on the OC is 4" long and only 3 3/4" long on the NC making it a better grip for an armoured hand to get around though it is also thinner than the NC. The NC is fatter and feels better in a non armoured hand of a glove only.
The balance is very different as well. The NC balance point is only 3/4" from the crossguard and on the OC is 2 1/4" from the crossguard.
The Pommels are also different. the OC pommel is 1 7/8" in diameter. and 15/16" thick as the NC pommel is also 1 7/8" in diameter but a full 1" thick. The OC also had 1/2" drill holes on both sides removing some weight off the pommel.

In short (no pun) the OC is much more like a sword with it forward weight and heavier blade and the NC more like a dagger with it quick balance and fat handle.

It almost seems like the OC screams to be a slashing blade doing the heavy work against armour and the NC acts like it's more sophisticated little brother wanting to be the quick and nimble off hand defender in a duel of honor.
Both are excellent pieces and both can find a nice home in any collection.

Michael G. Myers · Posted: Thu 27 Sep, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

Gary, thanks for taking the time to provide a rundown on the stats for these two pieces. 'Answers some of my questions, at least. Wink

Mike

Nathan Keysor · Posted: Thu 27 Sep, 2007 7:49 am Post subject:

I had the OC and thought it was a nice little weapon. I think with a grip rewrap it would look even better.

Bob,

I wish your wife would talk some sense into my wife. She doesn't understand why I "need" more than one sword. Big Grin

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Thu 27 Sep, 2007 8:11 am Post subject:

Bob Burns · Posted: Fri 28 Sep, 2007 1:14 am Post subject:

Gary, thank you very much for your analogy of the old and new Coustiles, I really appreciate this and now I am twinged with interest to check out this new Coustile and probably will buy it. Laughing Out Loud

The fact that the new Coustile has a shorter and thicker grip and with the difference in how it is balance to being more like a dagger, presents itself to be rather interesting to me!

Thanks Much!

Bob

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Fri 28 Sep, 2007 6:28 am Post subject:

Nathan Keysor · Posted: Fri 28 Sep, 2007 8:34 am Post subject:

Gary,

You are lucky that your wife has an interest in history and weaponry. My wife's eyes glaze over the minute I start talking about the Crusades etc... I will try the shoe analogy since she has more pairs than I can count Big Grin

You got a good price on the NC. I bought two sharpened ones from MRL for $138 each and was lucky to sell them for $100. That's what I get for being a compulsive buyer of weaponry. The good news is I got my new Albion Kingmaker (see separate thread) and it is sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Nathan

PS

The Spice must flow

Bob Burns · Posted: Fri 28 Sep, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks Gary for the "Heads Up" about the Old Coustile, thank goodness that I have it! Because I have always been quite fond of this piece! Which therefore of course peaks my interest about the New coustile!

Sincerely,

Bob

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Sun 30 Sep, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks Bob,

Any time. I am currently working on more displays. Trying to come up with a good way to display a rapier on the wall. I have the hardwood mount board, just don't know what to use to hold the sword.

Bob Burns · Posted: Sat 13 Oct, 2007 1:33 am Post subject:

I went over to Kult of Athena this past Tuesday 9th Oct to ask Ryan about his trip to Europe and to check out the new Coustile and brought mine along for comparison, well, now I have 2 Coustiles, one of the former type and one of the new type. I like the new Coustile with it's thicker grip and the new style of crossguard, it definitely has a different feel to it and it's fun to practice with two Huge daggers simultaneously! Evil

I sharpened it to lethal status as soon as I got home, which is the condition I keep all my blades in. I have lot's of stones and all the sandpaper grits up to 2,000 and a good quality fine file for the occasional new blade such as a Windlass product that necessitates a lot of initial honing.
At $99.95 or so, this is a real nice huge and menacing dagger!

Bob

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Mon 15 Oct, 2007 8:17 am Post subject:

Bob Burns · Posted: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks Gary, I will watch for it, yep I do have this movie on DVD!
Also, I gave the new Coustile to my wife Gayle and she LOVES it! She already had the Medieval Sword Hilted Dagger and the new Coustile has a matching pommel.
She also has another nice Windlass dagger, it's solid brass hilted. Also, a year ago I bought her the Arms & Armor
Elector of Saxony Dagger with Deluxe Scabbard, which she loves a lot. She likes daggers a lot.
Next year I am forgoing my own acquisition agenda which was mainly the 12th Century Sword from Arms & Armor and something from Albion, but I might still get something from Albion.
I am getting Gayle a Brass Hilted German Rapier with matching dagger and then the solid core deluxe scabbard for the rapier and the deluxe scabbard for the matching dagger and the belt and riggings. First the rapier and the dagger though.
The rest, as I can afford. I already told her that I was getting this for her. She is a very self sacrificing gal but I won't let her do that and I haven't let her do that for the 17 years I've known her. She needs spoiling and I like doing that for her!

Sincerely,

Bob

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Sun 21 Oct, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject:

I like to spoil mine too.
She just came in to size my new Surcoat to make sure it fits right at Texas RenFest two weeks from now.
We made her a thick Leather Jerkin and 21/2" wide belt with a nice chrome buckle. She will have that old model Coustille to wear and I'll have the new model.

Roger Hooper · Posted: Tue 28 Feb, 2012 10:53 am Post subject:

I'm resurrecting this old thread to say that those who miss the discontinued Windlass Coustille can buy an alternative with the relatively new Del Tin DT6161 - a very robust Italian left-hand dagger. It is pretty much the same size as the old Coustille - 0.5 inches shorter and 0.05 inches less in width. I have one and like it a lot. It is more expensive but the quality is also better than the Windlass Coustille.

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DT6161