by Atrim, SFMO Staff Writer

There has been some interest among collectors for a CAS Iberia versus Del Tin "One-on-one". Windlass Steelcrafts (India-based owners Museum Replicas Limited and Atlanta Cutlery) and Del Tin have some apples-to-apples comparison possibilities. CAS Iberia just does not have that many offerings that offer a good apples to apples shot. Does it have to be apples to apples? How about a couple of swords that have similar dimensions, could have existed during the same time period, and could have been owned by natural enemies?

The Del Tin 5151 Scottish Sword could easily have been owned by a Scottish Highlander circa 1400 AD. The sword could have consisted of a blade imported from Germany and assembled by a cutler with a guard of distinctive Scottish flavor.

There are a lot of English monuments and illustrations circa 1400 AD that feature swords similar in appearance to the CAS Iberia sword This sword could easiy have been made in Merry Olde England (if you ignore the cast brass guard) and been owned by an English knight.

Back to the present, both swords have been around about a year and a half. The Del Tin has been used extensively in martial arts practice, the CAS Iberia has seen moderate use. Both swords show the wear and tear of such use, though the Del Tin's blade is cosmetically in better shape.

The first cutting test (chopping) target I used was some cardboard tube 2.5 inches in diameter with a 1/4" wall. The CAS Iberia sword sheered cleanly clear thru. The Del Tin sword sheered thru to the "back" wall whereupon the sword seized, flexed 30 degrees out of true, vibrating back and forth "widening" the cut.

Advantage: CAS Iberia
Score: CAS Iberia 1 Del Tin 0

The next target was a piece of 1/4 inch plywood, the same target that attracted attention from Kent's finest a few weeks ago. After three strikes into the target the CAS Iberia sword averaged 3.25 inch deep cuts. The Del Tin averaged 3 inches into the plywood.

Advantage: CAS Iberia
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 0

Since the Highlander and the English knight would most probably be armed with shields, a shield breaking test seems to be in order. Not having a shield available, I searched around for an acceptable replacement. I finally settled on a pallet made of some thick hard wood. Setting the pallet up on end so the top 1 x 4 could be attacked cross grain, I let her rip. The CAS Iberia sword's first two strikes sent chips flying. The third strike the blade caught in the wood, vibrated, and bent. The Del Tin sword, after striking the target five times did not have the same impact the CAS Iberia did. It bounced, bucked, and vibrated a couple of times, but came thru unscathed.

Advantage: Del Tin
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 1

(Warning, this is just about as abusive a use as there is for a sword)

The next test is a slashing test. After straightening the CAS Iberia blade I set up a long cardboard box that features 3 layers of corrugated cardboard .600 inches thick. The CAS Iberia slashed the surface cleanly, but in the 3 deeper slashes, penetrating all three layers of the cardboard, the CAS Iberia "caught" all three times. The Del Tin sword slashed cleanly 2 out of 3 times on the "surface slash"phase, the third time the sword bounced off, bucked and vibrated. The deeper slashes, the Del Tin passed thru the cardboard cleanly all three times.

Advantage: Del Tin
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 2

Preparing for the thrusting tests, I inspected the tips for wear or damage. The CAS Iberia War Sword needed to be resharpened, the Del Tin was ready for more.

Advantage: Del Tin
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 3

The first thrusting test was the "pizza box toss", both sword maneuvered fast enough to "catch" the flying box with a thrust.

Advantage: even
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 3

For the second thrusting test it was back to the 1/4" plywood. Both swords pierced cleanly, neither to any real distance.

Advantage: even
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 3

The third thrusting test: The CAS Iberia sword thrust into some cardboard tube cleanly about an inch deep three times. The Del Tin sword matched this but did not improve on it.

Advantage: even
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 3

The 4th thrusting test is a little more challenging. These plastic skinned 55 gal barrels I sometimes use as a "semi-hard" thrusting target has defeated more than 1/2 the swords used against them. The CAS Iberia sword bounced off the skin, bent. The Del Tin sword pierced cleanly to a depth of 6 inches.

Advantage: Del Tin
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 4

I wanted to attack the steel cans with the swords, but since the CAS Iberia failed here I deemed it not a good idea. Besides, I had already attacked the 'cans with the Del Tin and knew what to expect.

During the after action evaluation, I decided that I had to account for the 2 times the CAS Iberia blade bent.

Advantage: Del Tin
Score: CAS Iberia 2 Del Tin 6

What did I prove during this? Not much really. Besides having fun we already know that Del Tin makes a better sword than CAS Iberia. And we already know that some CAS Iberia swords (with an emphasis on some) are serviceable and can deal with some abuse.

After a year and a half of steady constant use, the Del Tin sword shows some wear on the leather of the grip, the pommel has developed a dark patina, the hilt has loosened up a bit but is still serviceable. The blade shows very little wear, just a couple of scratches on the sides wear I sheered thru some nails.

After a year and a half of moderate use, the CAS Iberia's wire grip is coming loose (held together with duct tape), The blade has a couple of deep knicks in the edges, and deep gouges on the sides where the blade passed thru some nails.

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