Arming Sword – 36" High Carbon Damascus Steel

This 36-inch Damascus steel arming sword follows the form of the medieval knight's sidearm, circa 1300–1450: a straight, double-edged, tapering blade with a central fuller, a one-handed grip, a cruciform guard, and a counterweight pommel. The blade ships sharpened, and a fitted leather sheath is included.

Its proportions sit squarely among surviving originals — a comparable Western European knightly sword of about 1450 in the Metropolitan Museum measures 37⅛ inches overall, and a Cleveland Museum example of about 1400 runs 33⁹⁄₁₆ inches with a one-handed grip. Even the guard has period roots: quillons curving toward the blade became fashionable around 1300, and spiral-twisted "writhen" hilts were the pride of late Gothic German smiths. This sword takes those genuine medieval fashions and pushes them one step further into fantasy — a knight's sword as a storyteller would remember it.

The Damascus Steel Blade

The blade is forged from Damascus steel — alternating layers of high-carbon steel forge-welded, folded, and acid-etched to reveal a flowing, watermarked pattern across every surface, from the fuller to the edge bevels. The pattern runs through the full thickness of the steel; no two blades ever share it, so the sword you receive exists nowhere else.

Beneath the pattern is a working blade: fully heat-treated high-carbon steel, sharpened along both edges, with the central fuller lightening the blade the same way it did on the medieval swords this profile is drawn from. Like all carbon-steel Damascus it is not stainless — it asks for the simple care routine below, and repays it with a pattern that deepens in character for as long as you own it.

The Twisted Bronze Hilt

Most swords in this class wear a plain straight crossguard. This one commits to the drama: the guard's arms are sculpted in twisting, ribbon-like curves that sweep toward the blade, finished in an antiqued bronze tone that warms the dark Damascus above it. The grip is turned wood in deep brown, ribbed for a sure hold, and the flared metal pommel balances the blade and completes the silhouette.

The style has real historical ancestors. Down-curved quillons became a knightly fashion around 1300 and appear on surviving swords in major museum collections, while late 15th-century South German and Austrian smiths carved crossguards and pommels with spiral, twisted fluting — the "writhen" hilts now in the Wallace Collection and the Metropolitan Museum. This sword's guard is an exaggerated, bronze-finished descendant of both fashions: more decorative than most surviving medieval examples, and unmistakable on a wall because of it.

At 36 inches overall with a one-handed grip and approximately 3 pounds in hand, the sword carries classic arming-sword proportions with real presence — substantial at the guard, alive at the point.

Included Leather Sheath

A fitted leather sheath is included for transport and display. For long-term storage, keep the oiled blade out of the sheath, as leather holds moisture against carbon steel.

Explore our full range of fantasy swords and arming swords, browse the complete sword collection, or create your own custom sword with the blade, steel, and fittings you choose.

Sword Specifications

• Overall length: 36 inches
• Weight: approximately 3 lbs
• Blade material: Damascus steel (layered, forge-welded high-carbon steel)
• Edge: Sharpened, double-edged
• Blade profile: Straight with central fuller
• Guard: Sculpted twisted crossguard, antiqued bronze finish
• Grip: Ribbed dark wood, one-handed
• Pommel: Flared, turned metal pommel
• Included: Fitted leather sheath
• Primary classification: Medieval arming sword (knight's sword)
• Related classifications: Knightly sword, fantasy sword
• Design inspiration: European arming swords circa 1300–1450, with a fantasy-styled writhen hilt — historically inspired, not an exact reproduction

Sword Care

Damascus is high-carbon steel, not stainless. Wipe the blade clean of fingerprints and moisture after handling, and apply a thin coat of mineral oil or sword oil before storage. Keep the sword in a dry environment, and avoid abrasive cleaners or polishes — they can flatten the etched contrast that gives the steel its pattern, and dull the antiqued finish of the hilt. Because the edge is sharpened, handle the blade with care and store it out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of sword is this?

It's a medieval arming sword — the one-handed knightly sword that served as the knight's sidearm from roughly 1300 to 1450 — with dimensions consistent with surviving 14th- and 15th-century originals. The twisted bronze guard exaggerates genuine period fashions (down-curved quillons, spiral writhen carving) into fantasy territory, which is why we describe it as historically inspired rather than an exact reproduction. One honest note on the steel: pattern-welded blades have deep European precedent, but in the Viking and Anglo-Saxon centuries rather than the later Middle Ages — a knight of 1400 would have carried plain polished steel.

What are the main medieval sword types?

The one-handed arming sword was the knight's standard sidearm; the longsword added an extended two-handed grip; hand-and-a-half or bastard swords sat between them; and greatswords like the Zweihänder grew into dedicated two-handed battlefield weapons. At 36 inches with a one-handed grip, this sword's proportions match the arming sword class.

Is this a real, functional sword?

Yes, in construction — the Damascus blade is genuine layered high-carbon steel, fully heat-treated and sharpened, not a wall-hanger casting. Its fantasy-styled hilt makes it a natural display centerpiece, but the blade underneath is made the same way as our historical reproductions.

Is Damascus steel good for swords?

Yes — provided the steels and heat treatment behind the pattern are right. This blade's layered high-carbon construction is hardened and tempered to the same performance target as our 1095 swords, so the pattern comes on top of a properly made blade rather than instead of one.

Does Damascus steel rust?

It can. Damascus is carbon steel, and it will rust if neglected — which also obscures the pattern. A wipe-down after handling and a light coat of oil before storage prevent it entirely.

Can it be used with one hand?

Yes — the ribbed grip is proportioned for a single hand, exactly like the medieval arming swords this sword's architecture follows. At roughly 3 pounds it's heftier than a typical historical arming sword, which most owners read as presence: it swings with authority and displays like a much larger sword.

Shipping times refer to carrier transit time after an item ships. They do not include production time, custom work, engraving, etching, or other preparation time before shipment.

In-stock items typically ship within 1 to 4 business days, though this can occasionally take longer during high-volume periods or for items requiring extra handling. Engraving or etching on in-stock items may add 1 to 3 business days before shipment.

Custom, engraved, altered, made-to-order, backordered, and specialty items (including armor and chess sets) may require additional production time before they ship. Fully custom items typically take 4 to 8 weeks, but complex requests may take longer depending on the design, materials, approvals, and production requirements.

Once an item ships, delivery time depends on the shipping method, carrier, and destination. If you need an item by a specific date, contact us before ordering so we can confirm whether the timeline is realistic.

In-stock items with no customizations can be returned free within 30 days, as long as they show no signs of use. Returns are handled through our return center.

Items that have any customization (such as engraving or etching) or that show signs of use cannot be returned. Custom and made-to-order items are produced specifically for your order and are not eligible for return.

If your item arrives damaged, incorrect, or defective, contact us with your order number and photos so we can review the issue.