Gothic Hand-and-a-Half Estoc Sword for Historical Fencing and HEMA

Gothic Hand-and-a-Half Estoc Sword for Historical Fencing and HEMA

Historical Context and Practical Application of the Sword

From the 14th to the 17th centuries, with the massive rise of perfectly shaped plate armor, classic cutting swords lost their effectiveness. The armorers' answer was the estoc (English tuck) – a sword primarily designed for powerful thrusts into the weak points of armor, armpits, or the visors of great helms. Although a historical estoc often lacked an edge and featured a massive triangular or square cross-section, the model we offer represents a refined compromise. Its diamond cross-section blade is more reminiscent of late Gothic longswords (Oakeshott typology XVa or XVIIIa), making it an outstanding and versatile thrust-and-cut weapon. The sword is classified as a Class B combat sword. It is designed for technique drills, light free fencing (HEMA, SCA), and theatrical combat. The blade is made of high-quality spring steel (equivalent to 54SiCr6 or 50CrV4), which is hardened in an oil bath and subsequently tempered to a hardness of 48.5 +/- 2 HRc. The weapon is thus flexible enough to absorb impacts while maintaining its structural integrity.

Safety Guidelines and Proper Maintenance

Although the blade is provided with a blunt striking edge (approx. 2.5 mm / 0.10 in at the guard, tapering smoothly to 1.8 mm / 0.07 in at the tip), this is not a toy. When engaging in contact fencing, always use adequate protective equipment – a fencing mask, sturdy padded clothing, and high-quality gloves. The sword is not intended for extreme heavy combat like buhurt (Battle of the Nations), where its slender blade could be damaged. Avoid unnecessarily striking hard objects or the sharp edges of other weapons with the flat of the blade. To ensure that your high-carbon steel blade serves you well for a long time and does not rust, it must be cleaned of sweat and moisture after every training session and treated with a thin layer of gun oil. We recommend occasionally treating the handle, which is wrapped in genuine leather, with a leather balm containing beeswax to prevent the material from cracking and to maintain a firm grip.

Recommended Accessories

To accompany this sword, we highly recommend purchasing a quality leather scabbard for safe transport, a sturdy belt with a sword frog, and, to increase comfort and safety during training, a thickly padded gambeson and HEMA gloves.

Technical Parameters of the Gothic Estoc Sword

Note: Due to traditional hand-crafting methods, individual pieces may vary slightly in dimensions, weight, and the shade of the leather grip wrapping.

This is one of the best bladed weapons in the Sword class B 

This weapon is made by of one of the best swordsmiths in Czechia - Mr. Pavel Moc. His bladed weapons are generally an "artistic license" of historical originals. They are the result of decades-long-experience and discussions with historians, swordsmen and colleagues in the industry. If the replica does not directly correspond to the preserved original, it is based on contemporary iconography, illuminations and its final form is a "well informed stylization".