The Solingen. The original sword now resides in the Deutsches Klingenmusem, in Solingen, Germany. It has a close sibling in the Royal Armouries in Leeds with the same pommel, cross and general blade shape. The blade has a form that places it somewhere between type XII and type XIV according to the Oakeshott typology. The pronounced point is good for slashing attacks as well as thrusts. The careful distribution of mass in the blade makes the sword very quick and precise in handling while allowing it to cut with authority. Profile and distal taper helps achieve sweet handling characteristics, while at the same time keeping the thin cutting section of the blade stiff.

This is a very good example of a weapon where overall shape and aesthetic design are intrinsic parts of the functional aspects of the sword. The master craftsman (or craftsmen) who made this sword sometime in the 13th century shaped the blade and hilt components with subtlety and a deep understanding of volumes and mass distribution. A sword of this type would be perfect for sword-and-buckler fighting and shares many characteristics with the swords depicted in the well known fencing manual I:33. As opposed to the more massive swords-of-war of the time, this responsive weapon excels in performance when put to use with the advanced fencing styles of the period.

An exact hand-forged reconstruction by Peter Johnsson was on display in the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (Solingen, Germany) in an exhibition on the craft of swordmaking in historical and present times. Experience and information gained during this project is now put to use by the artisans of Albion to make an exact and very authentic recreation that shares the handling and performance characteristics of the historical original.