News Update: August 6 2010

by Arnold Kotlyarevsky

Manufacturer Developments

Darksword Armory

Every once in a while, it is illuminating to see the resources that inform and inspire the smiths who make some of the swords we love so much. Well now on the Darksword Armory website, you can! Darksword Armory has graciously posted their reference library in PDF. You can read from such books as Armouries of the Tower of London - Vols. I & II by Charles J. Ffoulkes or A Record of European Arms and Armor - Vols. I-V by Sir Guy Francis Laking. All of these files are part of the public domain, meaning you can download them for free straight from their website! DSA promises to add more articles and books in the weeks to come and encourages others to help contribute to the library. You can see the library they have already accumulated here.

Valiant Armory

For a long time now there has been a link to the 'Custom Sword Shoppe' on Valaint Armory's home page, which led only to a re-direct to the Custom Sword Shop forums. Finally, Valaint Armory has their custom section up and running. The Custom Sword Shoppe is Valiant Armory's way of providing some custom services to the sword community. You can use this arm of VA to buy any of their Signature Line swords and then customize the order. Thus far, the site is a little inconsistent with what options are available on particular swords. When the options are present, the handle, scabbard, and belt can be customized to any of eleven colors. The site even offers a custom shield service where you can choose a coat of arms to be presented on the shield. You can check out the Custom Sword Shoppe here.

New Product Releases

Valiant Armory

Valiant Armory is adding yet another longsword to their already illustrious signature collection. The Knight Templar is a two handed sword of type XIIa. The blade was designed by none other than Angus Trim, and with the fittings designed by Christian Fletcher, this sword is a deadly work of art. Because this is a new release, the first 50 of these will be numbered according to purchase but will only be available through Valiant Armory's Custom Sword Shoppe. Valiant Armory will also be giving away the prototype in the line as a free giveaway...thats right, free! All you need to do is sign up for their newsletter and you are automatically registered. You can sign up and look at more pictures of this beauty here.

Stuff I Missed: Product Releases

Hanwei

The people over at CAS Hanwei have added to their rapidly growing collection of western swords with a reproduction of a 9th century Saxon sword. This sword features a pattern welded blade with a large central fuller which begins under the strongly down-curved cross guard and continues until just before the tip of the blade. The handsome scabbard is detailed with the same sort of carving as can be seen on the hilt. You can take a more detailed look and check for availablitly on their website here.

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