Hanwei Practical Norman Sword

Paul Chen's broadswords are based on authentically styled swords in our collection but are tailored to meet the demands of re-enactment and stage combat. These very popular and affordable weapons feature authentic hilt styling, with fully tempered un-edged and un-pointed blades. They are designed to withstand rugged use while providing the level of safety required by many of today’s re-enactment societies. The blades are crafted from 1566 high-carbon steel, hardened to 50HRC, which restricts edge-notching to acceptable levels while providing resilience and protection against brittleness. While the blades are substantial, they are fullered to provide balance and good handling characteristics. They feature 1/16” wide edges and rounded tips for safety. The tangs are also substantial, with radiused corners at the blade shoulders and no welds. The end of the tang is riveted over the pommel, which both eliminates any possibility of inadvertent disassembly. The hardwood grips are leather-covered. The scabbards are fabricated in glass-filled resin, to eliminate swelling and to minimize blade corrosion problems, with belt rings that adjust to allow vertical or horizontal carry. The wood-grain finish is attractive, but also allow re-enactors to decorate the scabbard to match their persona.

The Hanwei Practical Norman Sword is based on a classic 11th century type popular during the Norman Invasion of Britain. The high-carbon deeply-fullered blade is light and well-balanced, with the wide blunted edges required for re-enactment. The guard is wider than that of the earlier Viking designs that preceded this pattern and the pommel is of the ''tea-cosy'' type.