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Production Sword Review: Del Tin's 5154 Two-Handed sword
By the maker of the blade of the Wallace Sword from the Mel Gibson film Braveheart
Article by Björn Hellqvist, Senior SFMO Staff Member.
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One of the lingering images of "Braveheart", the 1996 box office hit movie, is that of Mel Gibson wielding his war sword to great effect. The mighty sword was designed by Simon Atherton, using a Del Tin blade in order to get a durable prop. Fans of the movie wanted their own swords, prompting makers around the world to make their own versions of it. There are maybe a dozen different versions offered by scores of retailers, but only one can lay claim to be the closest of the lot: the Del Tin 5154 "Braveheart" sword.
The 138 cm (54.3") sword is a faithful reproduction of the movie prop, the only noticeable difference being that the little knob formed by the tang end and washer of the original isn't found on the Del Tin version. Apart from that, it's a very close run. The 105 cm (41.3") carbon steel blade is wide, with parallel edges and a flattened diamond cross-section.
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Vital Statistics:
Steel ....................... 50CrV4 Chromium-Vanadium steel
Point of Balance (POB)....... 6.3 inches / 16 cm from hilt
Center of Percussion (COP)... 25.6 inches / 65 cm from cross guard
Overall ..................... 54.3 inches / 138 cm
Blade ....................... 41.3 inches / 105 cm
Weight ...................... 5 lbs. ½ oz. (2350 grams)
Handle section .............. Hexagonal unless customer specifies
oval geometry
The ricasso is covered with thin, brown leather which is sewn together with a single seam down the back. The fit is very snug, and it allows for one hand holding the blade in front of the guard in order to enhance the handling. The distinctive hilt has a cast steel pommel and a straight steel cross-guard with langets reaching down the ricasso. The grip is long enough for two-handed use, with room to spare. It's of wood, slightly octagonal in cross-section and covered with dark brown leather. Close to the cross, it's wound with two pieces of cord under the leather wrap, intended to further enhance handling.
At 2.35 kilo (5 lbs. ½ oz.), it is a moderately heavy affair. It's on the heavy side for one-handed use, but it is much more agile when used with both hands. Gripping the ricasso with one hand makes it easier to control. The point of balance is 16 cm (6.3") in front of the cross. The center of percussion is about 65 cm (25.6") from the cross, which is OK. The second vibrational node is halfway down the grip, making the sword harmonically unbalanced. This is of importance only if one intends to do serious test-cutting with the sword or use it in combat - for costume and decorative use or non-contact work-out, it's quite all right. Swinging the sword, I found it to be slightly ponderous, but it didn't feel excessively heavy. The full-tang construction and high-quality blade ensures that the sword will hold up well to rough use, but caution is advised when using any sword edge-to-edge.
The sword is marketed by many retailers as being a Claymore and/or typically Scottish, but this is purely marketing hype. It is a Claymore only in the sense that the Scottish word means "great sword", and the design is closer to 15th century Continental swords than late 13th century Scottish weaponry. Still, it's a must for any dedicated "Braveheart" fan. Del Tin's sword is the closest one can get to the original - why settle for less if one has got the funds and wants a piece of movie history?
Editor's Note
Del Tin sells through dealers. Check under our Links page for an Editor's Choice dealer of Del Tin swords, off of our Main Menu of SwordForum.Com.
Also, customer can specify that they want an oval section hilt (instead of hexagonal) as well as matching leather of the grip and ricasso, in order to create a sword more true to the film.
Contact Information
Del Tin Armi Antiche
Website: http://www.deltin.net/
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