Battle Ready Longsword Oakeshott Type XVIIIb with Detailed Scabbard

Battle Ready Longsword Oakeshott Type XVIIIb with Detailed Scabbard

Historical Context and Design

Type XVIIIb swords appeared in Europe during the 15th century, a time when high-quality plate armor was becoming common on battlefields. To deal with this protection, blade geometry had to evolve. This sword's blade features a characteristic diamond cross-section, which provides high stiffness while maintaining low weight. The long, slender point is designed to find gaps in armor and delivers excellent penetration power in the thrust.

The hilt consists of a wood core covered in leather, featuring a section wrapped in silver-plated wire near the guard, ensuring a secure grip even with sweaty palms or gloves. The faceted scent-stopper pommel helps balance the long blade and allows for quick manipulation. The crossguard is slightly curved towards the blade, a typical feature of swords from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Material and Craftsmanship

The blade is forged from 65Mn spring steel. This material is prized for its toughness and resilience. It is tempered to a hardness of approximately 49–53 HRC, ensuring the edge retains its sharpness without being brittle.

The sword comes with an elaborate scabbard featuring a leather-covered wood core. It is equipped with an integrated belt system with brass buckles, allowing for comfortable wear and adjustment of the drawing angle. The leather is tooled with geometric and floral motifs and finished with a protective metal chape.

Usage and Maintenance

This sword is an ideal choice for cutting practice on soft targets (tatami, clay rolls) or for advanced form practice (katas). Thanks to its light weight and point of balance close to the guard, it is highly maneuverable.

Care Instructions: 65Mn steel is not stainless. Wipe the blade with a dry cloth after every touch or use and preserve it with oil (e.g., WD-40, silicone oil, or gun oil). Treat leather parts with beeswax-based leather conditioners. Store the sword in a dry environment, ideally outside the scabbard, to prevent moisture accumulation.

Safety Warnings

This is a fully functional replica of a cold weapon. The blade may be supplied sharp. This sword is not intended for "edge-on-edge" contact sparring or stage combat where hard impacts against other steel weapons occur – this risks irreversible damage to the edge (nicks, gouges). Please exercise extreme caution when handling to avoid injury to yourself or others. Use is at your own risk.

Specifications

Would you like me to recommend a suitable maintenance kit to keep your blade in top condition?