The era of the long sword spanned almost three centuries (approximately 1350 to 1650). This, undoubtedly, was because it really worked! It featured a distinctive cruciform hilt and a long, double edged blade and was equally adept at opposing both light and heavily armored foes. You see, its extra long blade offered the reach and leverage for powerful stabbing, cutting and chopping strokes while its long cross guard and heavy pommel were useful for hooking, striking and smashing. When heavy plate armor was encountered, blows with the edge were marginally effective and were often abandoned in favor of a “Half-Swording” technique; where one hand grips the hilt and the other the blade to better direct the point in powerful jabs, and to more accurately thrust at the small gaps and joints present in a suit of armor. Having read S.M. Stirling’s “Change” series of science fiction novels about a world that loses 600 years of technological evolution overnight (an event called “The Change”) at least a dozen times each, has left our President Lynn C. Thompson quite taken with the many virtues of the Long Sword and inspired him to make a Cold Steel variation. Modeled on the Italian concept of sword design, the blade and balance slightly favors thrusting attacks, however, its cutting edges are astonishingly effective too and can deliver some down right ferocious blows. Additionally, its simple cruciform hilt is also all business with a long upturned cross guard, leather-over-wood grip, and a counter balancing fish tail pommel. Fast as a frog¹s tongue the Italian Sword is deadly in a fight and built like a tank. Blade Length: 35 1/2″ Overall Length: 45″ Steel: 1055 Carbon Weight: 42.1 oz Handle: 9 1/2″ Scabbard: Leather/Wood Scabbard w/ Steel Fittings
Cold Steel, Incorporated was founded in 1980, a company dedicated to making the strongest, sharpest knives in the world. Superblades has been a retailer of Cold steel’s for over 15 years now and we are convinced they are among the best knives and swords in the world.
Over the last three decades, Cold Steel has been at the forefront of the many innovations that have helped to define the knife industry as a whole. Progressive accomplishment, including the introduction of the checked Kraton® handles, and the tanto point blade styles have gone from curiously interesting features to industry-wide hallmarks of quality and sophistication. New ground was also broken with the introduction of unique new blade steels like San Mai III® and Tri-Ad™ Lock & locking mechanism for folding knives. Tri-Ad™ Lock for example, has never been equaled by any of Cold Steel's competitors and nothing they have produced yet has been proven to outperform it.
We have tested the Tri-Ad lock here as well and found it to be second to none in strength and durability.
Of course, Cold Steel will always look to the future, constantly striving to make the world's strongest, sharpest knives. That goal as elusive and difficult to achieve as it is, has been the same for the past thirty years. We here at Superblades will always continue to support and represent Cold Steel as a premium brand.
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