The “Unusually Broad” Type XVIIIa—— Recreating the Sword from Oakeshott’s Book

_{《Records of the Medieval Sword》}

To understand what "unusually broad" means here, we first need to understand how Oakeshott defined the Type XVIIIa. In his detailed discussion within the same book, the core characteristics of a Type XVIII blade are a flattened diamond cross-section with a sharp longitudinal mid-rib, providing both rigidity and a keen edge. Typically, the blade length is generally about 28 to 30 inches long and about 2 inches wide at the hilt (71–76 cm, 5.7 cm) .This blade form can be traced back to the Middle Bronze Age, around 1000 BC. The Type XVIIIa is an "enlarged" version of this classic form – a longer blade and a longer grip.

But the XVIIIa.10 is different. Its blade width exceeds the normal range of a Type XVIIIa.

_{Original Schloss Erbach Sword}

_{AzureForge XVIIIa.10 Replica}

The writhen pattern on the guard and pommel reflects classic German sword design tradition.

_{AzureForge XVIIIa.10 Replica}

Now, let's talk about what we actually did when recreating this sword.

We did not have direct access to the original, so our recreation was based primarily on the following sources:

1. The entry and photos in Records of the Medieval Sword;
2. A 3D model constructed by Dale Utt III, researcher at the Oakeshott Institute;
3. Capital Kunst Des Fechtens Plague Lectures 23 (The explanation of the Schloss Erbach Sword begins at 1 hour and 1 minute into the video).

Based on the literature and data, we determined the core dimensions:

For the blade material, we chose 65Mn spring steel and used an oil-quenching process, allowing the blade to flex up to 15° and fully return to true. With this hardness, the blade performs excellently when cutting or thrusting. At the same time, the blade surface is completely free of grind marks, preserving the natural texture of a medieval blade.

_{AzureForge XVIIIa.10 Replica}

We specifically applied localized hardening to the tip and conducted metal penetration tests. The geometry and localized hardness of the tip ensure the thrusting capability expected of a Type XVIIIa.

_{AzureForge XVIIIa.10 Replica}

We also tested its cutting performance. It cleanly cuts through targets in a single stroke, with excellent edge retention.

This battle-tested XVIIIa.10 replica is now available for order. If you're interested, feel free to reach out through the following channels:

• View product videos and more test clips
• Ordering information