Production Sword Review: Del Tin 5160
Early Sixteenth Century Spanish Rapier

By Gus A. Trim

This sword was provided to me by Albion Armourers for review.

DT-5160 is a sword whose original is in a photo in Oakeshott’s "The Sword in the Age of Chivalry. The reproduction is recognizable from the photo, meaning you can see which sword it was copied from very easily.

The sword as produced by Del Tin is a type XVIIIa (the original is a type XVIIIc, "Chivalry" typology, which is different than "Records" typology), a cut and thrust weapon which in my view was meant more for non armored combat than armored (both the original and the reproduction). The long slender blade has a flattened diamond crossection, and has a pronounced profile taper.

The blade, like all Del Tin blades, is dark grey in appearance, as is the guard and pommel. The grip, is black leather over a spiral wooden grip (it could be a wire wrap under leather, I just have the impression it is all wood). The pommel is a form of wheel pommel, and the cross is horizontally recurved (S-shaped) Attached to the cross are a couple of annelets (finger rings) to protect the finger while "fingering" the cross. In my opinion the grip is designed that the sword works best while "fingering".

Vital Statistics:

total length............................  42 inches
blade length............................  36.12 inches
weight .................................  2 lbs 10 oz
Center of Percussion (COP) .............  22 inches to 24 inches (long COP)
balance point ..........................  5.7 inches
blade width at base ....................  1.48
blade width before curving to point .....  0.61 inches
blade thickness at base ................   0.173 inches
No appreciable distal taper

In dry handling, this sword works much better with the finger over the cross. Tai Chi isn’t supposed to be done that way, but if you don’t tell, I won’t! This sword is very comfortable handling this way, and moves very quickly, with a lot of authority.

The slashing test was done with the GHH, and I did not repeat this test. This sword worked as well for this as any I have ever practiced this exercise with.

The cutting vs DT2169s was done with 1/4 inch plywood, some old nasty stuff I’ve had since last fall. The 1st thing I had to do was figure out what I was doing wrong with DT2169s, because I had trouble with it earlier in some cutting practice. It so happens that the problem was that I had gotten used to other sword’s grip and handling and had "forgotten" the feel of this one and hadn’t struck true. Once that problem was behind me, I struck the target to set a standard, struck it three times. Since this sword had in the past sunk into this kind of target over 9 inches, I was disappointed that I was only getting 5.5 inches, 5.9 inches, and 6.2 inches deep into the target. DT5160 went 5.7, 5.9 and 6.3 inches deep. For the longest time, DT2169s had stuck out in my experience with single hand cut and thrust (type XVIIIA’s) swords as being the best in this exercise, and even with a blade 1.5 inches longer, DT5160 was marginally better. Not being able to stand it, I struck the target 3 times each again. It was more consistent, but DT2169s averaged 6.1 inches, and DT5160 averaged 6.2 inches.

As a pizza box stabbing sword, it is very good. I like to hold the sword, blade down by my side as the box spins at speed to me, then as it closes "fast draw" the sword up and into the target. Some swords don’t have a lot of feel for this, but this one "follows" the tip very well.

The tube toss is a bit tougher, the cardboard is thicker, and the round surface can help the blade to deflect. No worries with this sword, it handles thrusting thru it easily, and keeps the tubes in line and at a safe distance.

For such a long bladed sword, it feels real solid. In my view, it is an extremely good and effective cut and thrust sword, and one which I have just added to my "Must Have" list.

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