The
Norman - 11th century
Original found in the Tower of London, H.M. Royal Armoury
collection.
The Normans (also called Northmen or Norsemen) were the
decendants of the Scandinavian Vikings who raided the European
coastal settlements at the outset of the 8th century. Despite
the Norman's conversion to Christianity and their adoption
of Frankish way of life, the Normans retained many of the
traits of their Germanic ancestors. This weapon is historically
bound to the Normans because of its frequent appearance
in the Bayeux Tapestry: an embroidery that depicts the Norman
Conquest. The Norman, classified as type XI by Oakeshott's
typology, is fitted with a wheel pommel and straight guard.
The diamond shape blade is extremely well balanced, making
this one of the lightest and most maneuverable Medieval
swords for cut and thrust swordplay.
Specifications
3.3 lbs
Blade 28"
Total Length 34.5"
Blade width at base 2"
POB 5.5" from guard
COP 18.5" from guard
Reviewed
by -
Brian K., Utah, USA
The first thing
that ran across my mind when I first held this sword was;
this sword is built to withstand impact, and I was right
too.
Classified as
the type
XI by Oakshott's typology, this type is distinguished
by having a slender blade, generally long in proportion
to the hilt, with a very narrow fuller running to within
a few inches of the point.
While this sword
is not as long as I would prefer, the 28" in blade reach
was quite adequate for sword play and never really felt
too short.
The disadvantage mainly with this sword over others in it's
size is the weight and balance of it. While not terrible,
in comparison of another sword I have with the exact same
blade length and handle, they are not even close in how
they handle. Having said that, this one is a crusher. By
that I mean it is not a finesse sword, but more of a heavy
hitter and made for sword to sword play, or heavy duty cutting!
Sharpening this sword was also a project in itself. I wouldn't
recommend attempting it without some experience, as there
is so much metal to shave off, you could easily ruin the
geometry of the blade. Not to mention, this is a 3 hour
exercise in patience.
Back to the details
though! Aesthetically, this is a nice sword to look at.
It is of a classic medieval design, and features a wonderful
cross-guard that is very attractive. The grip on the hilt
is nicely done with a nice leather, and metal rings underneath
the leather for extra grip.
The hilt is shaped nicely to provide a nice re-assuring
feel to let you know your blade angle is proper. While some
may agree that the stamped Darksword Armory logo on the
blade is not ideal, I would disagree and say that it works
well. It is well done, and the logo is neat looking. It
adds a nice touch, and states an artistic pride in the work.
The round pommel is a classic design, and feels just about
right in size, never really feeling like it is too big or
in the way during sword play. Now having said that, I wouldn't
agree with making it any bigger to balance out the sword.
This sword is heavy enough for a one handed blade. Thinking
about this a lot, I would like to see a slimmer blade to
lighten it up, and bring the balance point back at least
another inch. Getting this sword under 3 lbs. would help
a lot in arm durability!
The performance of this blade follows suit with what you
would expect from a sword built like this. While it does
not disappoint, it is immediately apparent the differences
between a sword for finesse, and a sword for heavy cutting.
You would expect the blade is longer than it really is with
the weight that follows your swing. But at the same time
you would not want a longer blade than this without the
use of a hand-and-a-half handle unless the blade is thinner.
Anything
longer than this with one hand and the weight of the blade
would distort your swing, and tire you out very quickly.
I'm hoping that Darksword will slim down their blades eventually,
but not too much. I like the beater aspect knowing I have
a very durable sword for fun. This sword makes a great hacker,
thruster, and maybe even a little chopping. There is very
little flex in the blade, so bending it would be hard to
do. While not necessarily historically accurate, it is ideal
for a lot of today's hobbyist ideals in cutting.
Emphasizing that
this sword is pleasing to the eye, it is what you would
like to display in a classic medieval section. While not
an all-around sword of finesse to heavy cutting, it does
what it wants to do very well and that is being a crusher.
But very few swords are an all-around sword, and certainly
not many in the lower price range. Knowing what your sword
is capable of, and knowing how to best cut with it, is part
of learning your sword and sword types. But, that is also
part of the fun in discovering the history and culture behind
every type of sword, and having various types in their collection
allows one to understand it even better.
Above - Click image for
a video demonstration on the Norman's Power & Durability.
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Reviewed
by -
The disadvantage mainly with this sword over others in it's
size is the weight and balance of it. While not terrible,
in comparison of another sword I have with the exact same
blade length and handle, they are not even close in how
they handle. Having said that, this one is a crusher. By
that I mean it is not a finesse sword, but more of a heavy
hitter and made for sword to sword play, or heavy duty cutting!
Sharpening this sword was also a project in itself. I wouldn't
recommend attempting it without some experience, as there
is so much metal to shave off, you could easily ruin the
geometry of the blade. Not to mention, this is a 3 hour
exercise in patience.
The hilt is shaped nicely to provide a nice re-assuring
feel to let you know your blade angle is proper. While some
may agree that the stamped Darksword Armory logo on the
blade is not ideal, I would disagree and say that it works
well. It is well done, and the logo is neat looking. It
adds a nice touch, and states an artistic pride in the work.
The round pommel is a classic design, and feels just about
right in size, never really feeling like it is too big or
in the way during sword play. Now having said that, I wouldn't
agree with making it any bigger to balance out the sword.
This sword is heavy enough for a one handed blade. Thinking
about this a lot, I would like to see a slimmer blade to
lighten it up, and bring the balance point back at least
another inch. Getting this sword under 3 lbs. would help
a lot in arm durability!
Anything
longer than this with one hand and the weight of the blade
would distort your swing, and tire you out very quickly.
I'm hoping that Darksword will slim down their blades eventually,
but not too much. I like the beater aspect knowing I have
a very durable sword for fun. This sword makes a great hacker,
thruster, and maybe even a little chopping. There is very
little flex in the blade, so bending it would be hard to
do. While not necessarily historically accurate, it is ideal
for a lot of today's hobbyist ideals in cutting.
