The Brescia Spadona
The Brescia Spadona
Peter Johnsson Museum Collection
Oakeshott Type: XVIa
Time period:
| 1410 | 1430 | 1450 |
1460 |
||
This sword is ready to be shipped in this configuration
Ships within 5 working days.
This sword has the following customizing options:
Made to order. Expected production time 4 months.
Specifications 
| Standard specification | |
| Total length: | 118 cm (46,46") |
| Blade length: | 90 cm (35,24") |
| CoG: | 9 cm (3,5") |
| CoP: | 50 cm (19,69") |
| Weight: | 1470 g (3,241 lbs) |
The Brescia Spadona
A faithful recreation of an historical sword named after the city where it now resides, in the Museo Civico L. Mazzoli in Brescia, Italy.
This long sword is referred to as "spadona da una mano e mezza" or longsword of one hand and a half and dates from the mid 1400's. It is born from a meeting between great sword manufacturing areas. The blade was forged by one of the masterful swordsmiths in the renowned workshops of Passau, in southern Germany. From here it was exported to a north Italian sword cutler who mounted the blade according to his and his customers ideals. The beautifully proportioned hilt is of Italian manufacture in a style that was popular during the first half of the15th century. The well-forged cross combines graceful shape with sturdy construction, and the pommel is octagonal with its upper faces hollowground for an elegant appearance and deadly effect in close quarter combat. The sword could be described as an Oakeshott type XVIIIa or possibly a XVIa as described in "The Sword in the Age of Chivalry".
During a visit to the museum, swordsmith Peter Johnsson had the opportunity to handle and carefully document this splendid weapon. It is very well preserved showing interesting signs of wear. The edges have been resharpened during its period of use and still retain most of their original sharpness. The original has obviously seen some use but has also been well cared for. Balance and heft is such that the handling character belies its actual weight. The sword is perfectly adapted for the advanced fencing techniques of the master Fiore de´Liberi. The slim but very stiff point responds effortlessly to every move and feint while the mass of the sword and its well formed edges allows for very decisive cutting.
The sword as recreated in the workshops of Albion is very close to the original, not only in dimensions and details, but also demonstrates the same exquisite handling characteristics. The aim of this reconstruction is to present the sword as it was when delivered from the Italian cutler's shop some 550 years ago. The slight unevenesses of the edges are filled out and the point reestablished. A careful recreation such as this will present sword enthusiasts and students of historical swordsmanship with unique insights and hands on experience of an outstanding late medieval longsword.
The blades are hand-ground and finished to a high satin finish and sharpened like the original sword: the edge bevels run gradually to the keen cutting sharpness. Each blade is individually heat treated in Albion's Forge Shop for maximum flexibility and cutting performance. The wooden core of the grip is bound with cord for extra strength and covered with leather. The cross with its down-turned ends and its faceted pommel are all hand finished and mounted to fit individual blades.
A Limited Edition Hand Crafted Collectible Sword
This sword is offered in a limited edition of only 1000 collectible swords worldwide.
Sword design/specifications ©2005 Peter Johnsson.
Customer testimonials
Museum Line Brescia Spadona
I finally found the required time to test my new Brescia Spadona, and I’m finally able to send you my overall customer testimonial. First thing to say, I was well aware before purchasing it of the many qualities, in both beauty and ability, of this particular sword. But there is quite a difference between reading, seeing pictures and videos, and the real thing.
The Brescia Spadona is a true gorgeous beauty of steel. The particular shape of the blade gives it a genuine female feeling, except maybe at both ends: the pommel is awesomely frightening, and the needle sharp point is something you definitely don’t want to mess with. But everything else is nice curves: the blade, the fuller, and the slender grip as well. On your website the sword seems a big one, and I found it a little smaller than I thought. I’ve got no small hands and I have to use the pommel to handle it properly, but it’s not a problem. The complex faceted shape of this one does not hamper the handling, nor is it uncomfortable at all. When you take it in your hand, the sword seems of a good reassuring weight, but not too much, even for a man with only average strength like me, or even with only one hand. And as soon as you start to practise dry handling, the weight just disappears. Once in motion this blade is truly alive. It changes from one cut to another without any trouble, and with very little strength required. In fact it even feels livelier than my katana, whose weight is only 1,2 kg ! I took the time to know the Brescia Spadona a little before attempting more serious things like practising alone flourishes inspired from the Liechtenauer tradition of swordsmanship, and of course test cutting. Everything went well, and I was very impressed by the sword in every aspect. It performed without difficulty the 5 master cuts, windens are fast and precise, and it appears the sword is in fact only limited by the ability of the man wielding it. ;-) I attempted to cut pool noodles using real techniques rather than by hard strong cuts “for the sake of cutting”. The sword just did the job marvellously without any mistakes (except mine, of course ;-) ). I also tried to cut harder things, like a solid cardboard tube of 5cm in diameter and 7mm thick. This was really harder, like cutting strong bones. Nevertheless, the sword performed really deep cuts into the material, and even cut it in half on a particularly good oberhau! Of course, nothing happened to the sword, neither nicks nor bends, despite some of my poor cutting attempts leading to hard vibrations. To me, The Brescia Spadona is everything I expected: a truly efficient and beautiful sword, it will be a good family heirloom, the very initial purpose of it for me. I’m proud to be one of the one thousand happy owners, or owners to be, in the world. Albion Swords can be, in every aspect, really proud of this model also. Keep up the good work, and may your business know prosperity as long as you maintain this quality.Pierre, France
