Our good friend, the renowned fencing master Antone Blair came to us months ago asking if we could supply him and his students with an accurate version of the famous MET Federschwert. We dove right in without hesitation and the research began. We started with hyper accurate 3D models of the MET feder hardware, down to the millimeter, and even added some of the embossed detail. We then strategically beefed the guard up to exceed our own expectations of toughness. The cross and pommel have been made of hardened 17-4 stainless steel and finished with all the detail you would expect to see on an antique in a museum. We also offer a low-cost guard option that features our tried and true 10” hardened 4130 cruciform guard! The blades- yes blades, plural (I’ll get to this juicy detail in a moment) are made from a proprietary alloy steel that is tough, flexible, springy and very easy for us to heat treat and work. This alloy is something relatively new to us and after heavy testing and in the spirit of keeping these products affordable, this steel is a game changer. Ok! Blades! We offer 2 feder blade levels – a plain, low-cost version and a fancy version with the iconic engraving and schilt contours that represents the detail of the antiques that these swords pay homage to. These blades are both 38” (96.5cm) long from tang shoulder to tip. They feature a 4” (10.2cm) long schilt that is 2” (5.1cm) wide. For safe use for the modern practitioner, we decided to forego the true, nearly sharp spatulated tip that the antique has in favor of a modern conventional taper and swelled tip. The blade below the schilt tapers from 1/18” (28mm) wide to a swelled and rounded 5mm thick tip, 7/16” (12mm) wide. These blades are flat distal tapered and have a rounded edge thickness from 5mm to 3mm at the thinnest point. We also decided to throw a classic profile distal taper longsword blade into the mix as an option. The blade could be considered of the XVII typology with a narrow fuller and tight linear taper from the forte to the tip. The thickness and edge values are similar to that of the feder blades listed above. All these blades are wicked fast and responsive, safe in the thrust and have all the superb handling attributes you’ve come to expect from Castille. We offer 2 levels of flex for these blades- F4 @ ~30 lbs (13kg) and F3 @ ~22lbs (10kg). F4 is high stiffness, HEMA and SCA C&T legal combat. F3 is SCA rapier combat legal and great for general HEMA sparring and tournament use. We offer two grip lengths as well. 10” (25.4cm) and 12” (30.5cm). The contoured and waisted grips are made from 3d printed high temp PETG which absorbs shock very well and works as a compression spring with this design to virtually eliminate vibration and impact shock but keep everything tight. In fact, this design is unique among longswords in this industry because the pommel locks over the blade tang and terminates directly on tang shoulders on either side of the M6 thread. Thereby, compressing the grip but landing metal on metal (pommel on tang shoulders) for a union that cant shrink or come loose. This design cannot be overtightened and will not come loose until you want it to! These swords are modular and are not X-Tang as some of our previous designs but feature a traditional threaded tang through design and utilize a special recessed M6 threaded pin that requires a 5mm hex wrench. Total weight/POB from cross: *10” grip length ~ 2.8lbs (1270gr), 4” (9cm) POB. *12” Grip length ~ 3lbs (1360gr), 3.5” (10cm) POB. -Sam
