Windlass Battlecry! Maldon Viking Sword Review and Destruction 

I enjoy this review thoroughly. It's about time you put one of the older Windlass models through its paces and expose the horrible designs behind them. Props to Matt, who once again prioritizes sword science over his personal financial health, and to you obviously, who risk immense bodily injury to test these swords to their failures. Like all the models in the "Battlecry" line, this sword is a lazy re-hash of an even older Windlass model called Ashdown, which was reviewed by Skallagrim 3 years ago. He was absolutely impressed by the sword: "bit of a dead bar" "I've handled worse, but I still wouldn't praise it". The sword batted tatami mats around without biting into it even a little. He tested against a ballistic gel torso, and it was just bounced back time and again. For a Viking-era sword that doesn't have much profile taper, a flat bar without any distal taper is simply unacceptable. The pommel is just horribly designed. It's a flat block. Historical Viking-era swords all have pommels tapering in thickness to both sides with edges rounded, so it's comfortable to hold in handshake grip. There's absolutely nothing wrong with your grip, and there's nothing wrong with properly constructed Viking-era sword hilts, which this sword is not part of. I see that years after Skall gave constructive criticism, Windlass shows no intention to improve this model, I guess that's just the business practice. Well it's not a surprise that it broke prematurely. Other than having square shoulder on the tang which is a hazard in itself, but the harmonics of this sword is non-existent. By having a base of the blade so thin, and not tapering down in thickness, having a thick foible. This is the reason it has the wrong vibration nodes, and your hand received all the shock, which is exacerbated by the useless pommel design. It's also the reason that such shock eventually broke the sword in half in the worst place possible.

Thanks for the review. I saw a Matt Easton video the other day and remembered your comments abut Viking sword handles and how you dislike them. I paid attention and wondered why and Matt Eastons video explained to hold a viking sword you don't choke up on the guard but rather seat your hand against the pommel, leaving a gap between the hand and guard. Haven't got one to try but may be the thing.

As mentioned elsewhere in these comments. It's possible they've cut the corner where tang and blade meet too square. There should always be a radius there, it increases strength and takes away an area in which cracks are likely to form.

Came from the short, which was *hilarious* (and you could totally go viking ...)

I was worried as soon as I saw "Marto" on the blade.

I like how you’re up front with not worrying about historical accuracy. We watch you for info on the build quality and feel while using. I also don’t really like the Viking era pommels.

I have never held a "Viking" sword but those grips do look terribly uncomfortable. Thanks for the review. Love the Thumbnails. Cheers!

The handles of viking swords are often very short, because your pinky should sit on the pommel and the pommel touches the palm of your thumb with its side. Very old swords, old like bronzeage have pommels which ment to be hold in the palm. The Viking handles are between this type and grips with pommels below the fist. Modern replicas tend to have oversized handles with undersized pommels on Vikingswords, which tend to bite in the wrist. A big viking pommel should slide on the palm of your thumb.

I wholeheartedly second your opinion about Viking era pommels. I've never handled one that feels good in my hand.

I own that exact one myself, I’ve had it about 8 years now , I’ve always been happy with it but Ive always kept good care of it. Mine did come with an edge on it from the company lve never had to sharpen it for any reason. For the price, decent sword.

Matt your 100% correct on the pomel.

Love the videos

In regards to the pommel issue, I agree that viking era swords with that hard corner on the inside of the pommel are generally uncomfortable (I have big hands). There are some with more angled pommels I've handled though and they almost always feel much better. I recently got such an example from Del Tin (the model 2105) and the pommel hasn't hindered my hands at all because of the angle. Maybe if you look into one with such a pommel design you'd find it much more comfortable to use.

Love these reviews. A few things that will stick with me: - Grain size looks pretty big; - The transition into the tang needs a larger radius (which is something I realized Windlass doesn't do right after seeing a recent Scholagladitora [Matt Easton] video); - A strict, locked, hammer grip with no wrist motion seems to be the only way to avoid uncomfortable handling on Viking swords - Someone needs to tell Windlass to put some distal taper on their blades... Seriously! Can't wait to see more reviews like this. P.S. Why not sell some "sticks of doom" as channel merch? I'd get one if reasonably priced.

Steel is supposed to be softer in the tang. Therefore it should bend, not brake. Tempering issue.

It was really screaming a battle cry when it broke. LOL.

Windlass certainly needs to address this issue! I've seen older Battlecry! Viking swords take more abuse without bending & or breaking. This is clearly a lemon but was it a fluke? A batch of them? Or has the whole line taking a dive? Regardless I hope this gets addressed soon! I have owned the Battlecry! Bosworth longsword for a few years & apart from the inside of my grip being a bit too hollow where the tang rattles a bit I have no complaints. I've cut on dry bamboo & plywood & it's still tight.

Looking at that break it looks like they may have cut the shoulder transition from tang to blade in too square. The transition needs to be more smooth & rounded. Square shoulder makes stress points & if that was a used sword it could have already had stress fractures from using it w/ such defects.

got mine since it came out! always use it with the handshake grip! historically speaking this one is a bit on the heavy side. did a lot of cutting with it. had no issues with it😮

Wow That fail was fast

i'm glad its just not me that has issues with those pommels! I have relatively big hands and have similar issues getting it to feel right while maintaining some level of control

You should test the battle cry Agincourt war sword by windlass

where it failed looks well heat treated, which may be the issue. Perhaps the tang needs to bend not break.

I heard that they often welded soft iron tangs to the steel blades on Dark Age era swords. Maybe that is why. I guess such a soft iron tang would have bent before it broke.

Never been a fan of windlass swords, blades are good but they tend to break at the hilt, I've broke two like that and have one just sitting in the corner afraid to cut trash because I spent 350 on it.

Bought a fafnir viking sword. Broke the same way on the first swing after I sharpened it, was way too thin at the base of the tang. Koa sent me a new one on the spot, thankfully

I’ve heard the Viking sword grip is meant to lock the fist down against the top and bottom fittings, which, makes me wonder if they were custom made or otherwise sized for the user.

Just a heads up, the blades come dull. You can get them sharpened for an extra fee from certain vendors like Kult of Athena.

I too often happen to agreewith you....

If interested there are some great resources for the how and why's of the grip. After some education and use I'm a convert.

Oh the poor Viking sword. It will not appease Matthew :) Great work going over it from top to bottom and a shame it had such a critical failure for what should in paper be a “beater” sword. I know other makers have had issues with heat fitting guards on their blades, but I cannot imaging that’s what’s going on here. Hmmmm

can you review the Windlass British 1796? it's $369.95, i can't justify spending that much without seeing if it's well built, other people have reviewed it, but no destruction test.

half-moon my pommel mattdaddy

Who are you and what the HELL did you do with Matthew Jensen?!

🙂🙂🙂

I have a thought on the pommel. Viking swords are actually not viking swords,, they're norman swords and were developed for use on horseback, as a derivation of the spatha. Vikings also used these swords, horseback? I don't know all of that but the normans were all cavalry. A longer sword from a horseback is, in the modern era, (patton sword for example) often used as a lance to be stabbed into the target as the horse charges. ,,, PErhaps this pommel is actually a palm cap?? For some charges, you might position your hand so that rather than pushing your thumb and forefinger into the handguard, instead you have the full force of your palm behind it as a lance??

How much for pool-noodles each month?

Oh damn 🙆‍♂️ busted at the hilt that's a scary one for sure. It did go though the throwing and the tree of woe, but then again who knows when it broke? Probably before you even swung at the c.s.o.d. that's my best guess anyway. It's a tough one though for me, I really like this sword. The pommel ain't gonna come off that's for sure lol I have a windlass lief erikson and the blade has yet to fall off. I've cut some pretty hard targets with it, nothing like the c.s.o.d but I don't baby it. Also have hanwei tinker 9th century viking sword. I like the pommel on viking swords when you feel that bite you know it's working🤘😅 viking swords are heavier than most and blade heavy. Swung one handed over and over, a 3lbs sword gets kinda hard to hold onto. But if you have a big old knobby pommel it's alot less likely that you'll drop it if you do get tired. And at the end of the day its just a experience thing I got bit a few times. Viking swords have so much momentum you just don't have to swing very hard to cut really powerfully. Matt Easton has a video from a couple years back where he shows the proper wielding techniques. (They work for me) Also wanted to say I read a bunch of the comments and no the viking sword wasn't some kinda weird cavalry only sword or just for stabbing, it was used with a shield and as carried as a side arm(mostly, this style sword was used all across Europe from about 500-1100). The large pommel makes it basically impossible to fumble a draw, if your spear or axe broke or whatever and you have to draw your side arm now, now,now. Then that "annoying"pommel becomes a life saver. So it was probably considered a reasonable tradeoff until armour and cavalry started winning the arms race. Then drawing lighting fast and true wasn't as important so they eventually became, the slightly more ergonomic but basically the same wheel pommle. After the awkward teenage Brazil nut faze lol. (probably, in my well researched arm chair opinion). We as modern users just don't know what we're doing. If they totally sucked they wouldn't have been so popular for 600 years give or take.

It really seems kind of long for a one handed weapon.

Just a comment for the algorithm

Excellent note about Viking sword pommels. Good god, how can a design look so good but grip so badly.

You cut your hair? Or more likely had someone else cut your hair for you?

Where BA kriegsmesser review? :(

Something like this.. if you actually get to push this one to failure... It may very likely.. just snap right at the Tang.... The hilt... Right where the tang starts ..ya know... It depends on how it's made... Or built.. or also the material

I like i like i want i want....❤❤❤

Regrow your beard and don't shave it off again, my advice to all men.

Lmao

Windlass is crap.

Crappy sword made for small girls. That is it.