Research
How should a blade be made: Forging vs. Stock Reduction
Is there any real difference between a sword that is made via forging out a hunk of steel vs ground from a blank? Thi...
The First Sword
We are often asked "What was the first sword?" when we are feeling snarky we will talk about the first sword we pers...
Blacksmith vs. Cutler
Over the last few years there has been a renewed cultural appreciation of the figure of the blacksmith. Television...
Is Damascus steel better for swords?
The idea that so-called "Damascus" steel produces superior swords is quite common, but is it true? To be sure, ther...
Hunting Swords
In the Medieval period the hunt was seen as excellent training for combat and would often involve the use of hand we...
Arms & Armour History Conservation and Analysis
This volume brings together papers written by curators, conservators and scientists who have worked very closely wit...
Medieval Knives
One of our favorite things to make are medieval style knives. These blades cover a huge variety in style and size and...
Sword of St Martin 15th C
This sword is based on a depiction in a Book of Hours from France dated about 1440. It is one of the earliest example...
The Xiphos
Today we look at the Xiphos, the classic double-edged sword of the ancient Greek warrior. It is a weapon that straddl...
Dr. Amanda Taylor on the Sword Guy Podcast
Our research and work involves collaboration with scholars across the world. This includes many disciplines as we st...
Distal and Profile Taper of European Swords
Alright, this post comes with a long video, so settle in and grab some popcorn or a beer. Among historical sword afi...
Custom I.33 Trainer
One of the most interesting aspects of our work is designing training swords that really feel and move like historica...