MUNICH TOWN GUARD SWORD (GERMANY 1600-1630 AD)

LK Chen Munich Town Guard sword take inspiration from iconic battle sword crafted by the fame German sword maker Wolfgang Stantler. c1600 in the early 17th century,  commonly know today as the Munich Town Guard sword. 

The Town guard swords are in essence medieval single-hand arming swords with the addition of protective bars to take the place of the plate gauntlet.  While post-dating the Oakeshott's medieval sword typology, Munich Town Guard typically correspond to Oakeshott Type XV and XVIII blades, balancing cutting and thrusting abilities by starting broad at the guard and tapering dramatically to an acute point.   

German-speaking countries embraced this robust and versatile designs for the battle field while took advantage of the innovative protective hilt.

The Town Guard's thick forte and tang, strong profile and distal taper, complex hilt and wire-bound grip combine to create a lively weapon that also is heavy enough to withstand and excel at use against armored opponents on a crowded battlefield.  

Powerful, beautiful but subdued, this is practical sword one can rely on in the battlefield or in any confrontation.

Many of Stantler's battle swords can be found outside Germany in collections throughout the world  including the Royal Armories, Armories of the Dukes of Burgundy and Higgins Armory Museum and Wallace collection.   

Total Length: 102 cm (40.15")

Blade Length: 80 cm (31.49")

Width at guard: 45 mm

Taper to acute sharp point at the tip.

Thickness near the hilt: 6.5 mm

Thickness near the tip: 2 mm

Weight: 1419 g (3 lb. 2 ounces)

Point Of Balance at approx.  3 cm from hilt.

Blade Profile

Diamond Shape

Steel  GB 60Si2MnA   

High Carbon Manganese Spring Steel (Compare to AISI/SAE 5160 spring steel)   Element %       60Si2MnA    AISI/SAE 5160   

Carbon            0.56-0.64      0.56-0.61  

Silicon              1.60-2.00       0.15-0.35  

Manganese     0.60-0.90      0.75-1.00  

Phosphorus     <=0.030        <=0.035  

Sulfur               <=0.030        <=0.040  

Chromium       <=0.35          0.70-0.90  

Nickel               <=0.35          <=0.25    

Hardness 52-54 HRC.   

Medium to Low firing and through quenching for hardness   

Fittings  

Hand guard and pommel: Stainless Steel  

Handle wrap: Steel wire wrapped with "Turkish head" wire knots decorated on both end of the handle.

Scabbard :  Black fine top grain leather over wood core

Scabbard chape:  Stainless Steel