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Production Sword Review: Del Tin 2152
Schiavonesca
By Gus A. Trim
The DT2152 Schiavonesca is a relatively light bastard sword for a DT, and maybe one of the 4 or 5 best performing DT’s once you factor "class" in.
With the ussual dark grey appearance of the blade and fittings, this is a classic Del Tin. Copied from survivors in Venice, Oakeshott considers it of indeterminate type. As replicated, to me it resembles a type XIIIa "Sword of War".
Total length ....................... 48"
Blade length ....................... 38.75"
Blade width at base ................ 1.83"
Blade width before curve to point .. 1.22"
Blade thickness at base ............ 0.178"
(blade distal tapers only last third of blade)
Center of Percussion ............... 24"-26" fore of guard
Point of Balance ................... 7.63" fore of guard
Weight ............................. 3 lbs 7oz
The balance on this sword is good enough that the COP (Center of Percussion) is further than the 22 inches you get from a sword that isn’t "harmonically balanced".
For single hand use, the weight and balance combine to make this an awkward sword, though the grip works quite well for this. However, once the off hand is used close to the pommel, this becomes a sweet handling sword.
Trying this sword out on a couple of pallets while still blunt, I could feel very little shock and vibration coming back to the hand. The hilt did loosen though, probably just the grip settling. After retightening, I went back out in the parking lot and gave the pesky pallets what for a couple of more raps. The sword performed quite well considering it still needs to be sharpened.
Walking back into the shop, the two closest 55 gal barrels attacked me. At half sword, the tip easily penetrated the 1st, back with both hands on the grip, the 2nd barrel continued the assault. Handling this way, a thrust would not penetrate the skin, though it did knock the barrel around some. Finally exasperated, I went back to half sword and thrust one more time, easily pentetrating the barrel’s skin.
This time there was no loosening. The sword still has the "ring of steel". Next up cutting tests after sharpening.
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