CROSSQUILLAN SWORD WITH SHOULDER BELT: Beech wood blade, sisal rope guard, birchwood ball pommel, jute webbing handle, jute webbing baldrick.  A good size at 48 cm / 19.5" long approx.  Its baldrick (shoulder belt) adds greatly to the play value of this toy.  Crossquillan is pronounced cross-kwil-lin.

Historically:  Crossquillans of similar form were used from the late Roman and Dark ages and were in common use until the mid 16th century and last used in the 17th century.  Such swords were worn by archers in the great armies of the middle ages.

Order Code:  R-700-02          Price: US$28.50

Order Code:  R-700-04          Price: US$17.50

SCRAMASAEX LONG KNIFE:   Beech wood blade, sisal rope guard, jute webbing handle.  A most unusual short sword at over 36 cm / 14" long approx.

Historically: The preferred personal blade of the Saxon - c. 300AD to 1100'sAD - even when not at war an Anglo-Saxon would wear his Scramasaex Long Knife, a blade so much a part of his dress that its name meant Saxon.  The Scramasaex Long Knife was adopted by Vikings - c. 875AD to 1066AD, as a secondary blade, worn across the lower abdomen.  With the Vikings, the Scramasaex Long Knife was taken as far west as Vineland (North America).

Order Code:  R-700-06          Price: US$25.00

THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT

KNIGHT'S BROAD SWORD:   Beech wood blade, sisal rope guard, jute webbing handle.  A real 'King Maker' desired by children of all ages, at about 60 cm / 23.5" long.

Historically: First used by the richest of Norman knights among the 11th century Crusaders, this sword became commonly used by knights in the proceeding Plantaginate dynastic period - c. 1150AD to 1485AD.  Their romantic stories told of magic broad swords like 'Excalibur'.  This sword had evolved from the older spatha broad sword:  the guard quillans had grown giving greater protection, the pommel had become swept back enabling more fluid movement from the wrist, and the point had become more tapered reducing its weight.  Normans used war and political marriage for over 15 decades after their invasion of England in 1066AD to become the masters of many parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland.  All but the most remote chiefdoms became ruled over by descendants of those early Norman Lords.  This sword came to all parts of the British Isles as the local upper class became Normanised.

Order Code:  R-700-09          Price: US$26.00

THE HIGHLANDER

CLAYMORE GREATSWORD:   Beech wood blade, sisal rope guard, large birchwood ball pommel, jute webbing handle.  The ultimate wooden sword at about 75 cm / 29.5" long approx.  Desired by many adult theatrical groups as a prop.  This is a truly great model of a legendary sword.

Historically:- Although this sword came into existence in the late middle ages, it really was a sword of the Renaissance, often seen in the hands of a sword master.  On the field of battle the greatsword was used to break tight enemy polearm formations.  Because of the persistence of clan warrior culture in the highlands of Scotland, the skill required to wield this sword remained for over a century longer than the rest of Britain.  In the early Jacobite wars of the late 17th century, highland clansmen, with incredible prowess and dreaded effect, cut swathes through the lines of Redcoated English Infantry.

Order Code:  R-700-11          Price: US$37.50

THE RENAISSANCE SWORDSMAN

Historically: In the late-15th century, this sword developed from the medieval Arming Sword which was no longer used for battle (a knight's second blade had become a Gladius). A Poignard would have been worn at all times by a gentleman - to not wear it was to be undressed.  It was most likely to be used in duels of honour, when a gentleman would not be attired in Full Cuirass (wearing Armour).  Its strong, flexible, long, thin blade was more desirable than a heavy broad bladed sword, to deliver a quick thrust that could not be easily fenced (passed off/blocked).  From swords like this the martial art of sword fencing developed as a way to train young gentlemen with this sword. 

Order Code:  R-700-20          Price: US$28.00

The baldrick is a great addition to role-play; when a player puts it over their shoulder they feel more in character. One sure way to prevent leaving one of these desirable toys about the neighborhood is to hang it about the body when not battling the foe. Note: this shoulder belt will take both role-play swords and those from our historic sword range.  The baldrick fits on all of the larger swords.

Order Code:  R-700-23          Price: US$6.50

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BRONZE AGE CHIEF'S DIRK  Approximately 25 cm / 9.75" long

Bronze dirks similar to this are the oldest known metal blades. They date from as long ago as 1,500 years B.C.E. In ancient times a bronze dirk was more a status symbol and ceremenial aid than a weapon. Although such blades may have been worn by tribal chiefs in battle, the majority of weapons from this period (apart from occasional bronze-tipped arrows) were made of flint, wood, or antler.

Order Code:  R-700-26          Price: US$20.00

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NEW SWORD STYLES

ANCIENT CELTIC BROAD SWORD   Approximately 58 cm / 23" long

Historically: Weapons like this were being forged in iron by skilled swordsmiths of the iron age celtic culture from about 500BC. Celtic nobles paid great respect to their swords giving them names and having them blessed with magic.

Order Code:  R-700-16          Price: US$30.00

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