Lancasters Armourie
Sword Care

Thank you for your patronage, we believe your Lancasters Armourie sword represents exceedingly good value and we hope you enjoy using it. Your sword has been made to the same specifications as my own sword "Chivalry", and is designed for full contact combat. The steel is an old formula, commonly used as road hammer drill bits, the Quillon & Pommel are Bronze and the simple resin soaked leather grip contains two filets to lock the Quillon onto taper shoulders.

 

CARE OF YOUR SWORD

Pointers to enhance the appearance and aid the life-span of your sword:

• NEVER - EVER - use a broken Sword, the broken end will be very sharp (discard it to a safe place immediately), nor "chop wood" with it!  Your Sword is designed for metal to metal contact.
• NEVER dig your sword into the ground, allow it to become rusty or clean it with toxic cleaning agents (a wound could result in TETANUS). Please feel free to contact us for any advice on what is best to use.
• NEVER apply heat to the Sword "IE; welding, grinding or prolonged polishing" (it may result in the "temper" of the sword being altered).
• NEVER use big hammers on your sword. If you need to tighten a loose Quillon, beat the top of the Pommel downward with a hide mallet (the filets in the grip will tighten the Quillon onto the taper). Then burr the edges of the steel tang (exposed through the pommel) with a 1lb "ball hammer".
• DO keep your sword in a scabbard and in your home when not in use.  All the evidence suggests that most swords break early in the season, often on cold crisp mornings after being left overnight in the car (indicating that chilled steel would seem to be more brittle).
• ALWAYS inspect the blade carefully before you use it.
• DO become accustomed to the "sound" of your sword (each has a different tone), a change in the tone usually indicates a loose Quillon. Don't ignore it, carefully inspect the Sword to establish a cause.
• DO return the pieces of your sword if it should break within the first year of use, (we would wish to have the remains analysed to find out why it broke). If properly maintained, we will gladly replace the blade and return it. Please remember Bronze does not have the "shock impact resistance" of steel (constant impact may result in breakage).

Note: Your sword is made from a Chrome Nickel Molybdenum steel, NOT spring or carbon steel which may become brittle  with use. It is tempered to retain it's elasticity and allow the impact of your opponents weapon to "work harden" the cutting edges without affecting the main body of the sword blade. You will notice the cutting edges develop small exposed burrs and a bluing at the points of impact  (with use, they will become much less pronounced).  These are quite normal and should be removed at the battle site with a "fine" file or at home with a "DIY" drum sander on an electric drill, using a fine grit paper. This action is essential to disperse stress/fault-line focal points (never hammer the burrs flat, because they will break away later).  Whenever possible, try to maintain a cutting edge not less than 2.5 mm or more than 3 mm on the blade.

UNDER NO CURCUMSTANCE SHOULD ANY `L.A.' BLADE EVER BE SHARPENED, you buy our products on this understanding.

The blade of your sword may still show some slight signs of where it was ground (these can be removed with fine emery cloth and oil) also some "Carbide forging hammer marks" (try not to remove these, they de- stress the blade).

MAY YOUR SWORD ARM NEVER TIRE AND YOUR GOBLET BE EVER FULL