Essentially, a falchion sword is at an inquisitive intersection of the past, present, and future of sports and aesthetics. They have a unique appearance, a simple mechanism, and are often incorrectly interpreted. Such a misunderstanding in contemporary fighting with armor leads to the purchasing of wrong quality steel that can only be shown off in a display or overbuilt training swords that are bought by collector’s who just wanted something reminiscent of history for wall mount.
Medieval Extreme takes falchions like a startup in the hardware sector would take tools: using an engineering system that is based on purpose. The intention of the blade being able to withstand multiple steel-on-steel strikes or serve merely as a historical replica determines everything, starting from the treatment and thickness of the steel to the balancing of the blade and the fittings. Right choice made means that the process begins with intent rather than with appearance.
First Question: What Will You Actually Do With It?
It might seem like a no-brainer, but very often the answers of most buyers come in very general terms. Some examples of these non-neutral positions are: “Some training”, “maybe light sparring”, or “mostly display”. Each of these positions implies different stress profiles. Training swords have to permit cyclic impact loads, torque from binds, and accidental off-axis strikes. On the other hand, the display-oriented swords give priority to finish quality, historical silhouette, and controlled handling over the strength of the structure.
The Messer Sword for Armored Combat is very clearly in the training category. With a weight of 1.475 kg and a balance point of 10 cm, it is designed for control under load rather than dramatic handling. The grip is steel-covered, anti-slip and of compact length which prioritizes retention and safety. These are features that do not matter in display, but they are very important when the fighter’s stamina is low mid-fight.
Balance, Thickness, and Durability: What Changes Between Builds
The most apparent distinction between the display and training falchions is their thickness. The combat blades on the display falchons still have some thickness along their spine and edge, which helps in the impact to withstand the moment more. This eventually results in less edge deformation and slower crack propagation.
The next major variable is balance. The balance of display falchons is often pushed further forward to simulate the cutting bias of the past. On the other hand, training falchons pull the balance back to minimize joint strain and enhance recovery speed. Sports biomechanics research has consistently revealed that poorly balanced hand tools cause faster fatigue and higher error rates, thus increasing the chance of injuries occurring towards the end of the sessions.
The adornments such as the decorative fullers, thin tang transitions, and ornate guards that act as stress concentrators are all eliminated in the case of the training falchons. The Falchion from River Yare is an example of a middle ground: very refined visually, historically grounded, but still blunted and structurally reinforced for knightly fights.
Common Red Flags (Too Soft, Too Brittle, Poor Fittings)
Falchion failures are mostly predictable and hence, avoidable. Too soft steel will mushroom and bend; too hard steel will chip or crack. Apart from this, poor fittings will contribute to movements where none are meant to be, and the stress is magnified under impact.
Between these two extremes, the signs are often ignored by the buyers until the damage occurs. The training environments hasten the manifestation of small defects. What is considered safe on day one may turn to be dangerous by week three.
Some of the common red flags are:
- Slow recovery with too much flex pointing to the use of under-hardened steel.
- Edge chipping or micro-cracks indicating over-hardening.
- Loose guards or pommels where the impact vectors shift unpredictably.
Medieval Extreme minimizes these risks by using conservative heat treatment and sturdy assemblies. The approach of making swords has shifted more towards industrial tooling rather than being lavish in swordmaking.
Safe Handling Basics for Beginners
Even a perfect falchion can be dangerous if it is not properly handled. The novices tend to use more force than necessary, they do more swinging than required and completely forget about proper alignment, thus causing extra strain on the sword and themselves.
The first step is the handling that is done safely and at very low intensity. The first training rounds should focus on the above-mentioned aspects rather than power, i.e., edge alignment, recovery, and distance management. This is in line with injury studies in combat sports, which indicate that uncontrolled acceleration is a major factor leading to hand and wrist injuries.
Inspection discipline is equally important. Any burrs, bends, or loosened fittings should be dealt with immediately. A dull falchion is only safe when it is of the same shape as a sharp one.
Care Tips: Keeping a Falchion Clean and Straight
The durability of steel is more related to the way it is maintained than to the brand. Human perspiration contains salts that speed up the corrosion process, and improper storage results in warping. Daily cleaning with a little bit of oil and keeping the sword in dry conditions can greatly prolong the sword’s life, which is now a very familiar concept in metallurgical corrosion research.
The importance of straightness is equal to that of cleanliness. Even a very slight curve changes the stress distribution along the cutting edge. Training swords like the messer or River Yare models are made to be corrected within specific limits, but the damage gets worse with continuous disregard.
Scabbards, which are often considered as mere accessories, have a functional role here. The River Yare and Eastern falchions come with wooden-core scabbards that not only protect the edges but also keep the blade in good condition during transportation. Thus lessening the chance of damage that might happen accidentally when swords are not used.
