Cinquedea

[Privateer Armoury]

13 oz.

25" LOA, 20" Blade

[Elena]

Beautiful!

Tell me more about it, please!

[Privateer Armoury]

The Cinquedea was a short sword popular in northern Italy in the 1400-1600's, it was used primarily as a cutting weapon and carried in a horizontal position near the small of the back.

This piece is hand crafted.

The blade is 1/16" Swedish 15N20 steel.

The hilt is mild steel welded to the blade.

Double crossing fencier's knots cover the hardwood grip.

The technical specs are:

PoB: 3.5"

Pivot: 13.5"

CoP: 12.5"

SN: -1"

In other words it handles rather nicely for a short cutting sword.

(and the price is around $300)

[Jib]

Am I correct that the name of the blade has something to do with "5 Figures"? I also recall it worn in the small of the back.

[Privateer Armoury]

5 Fingers, and you are correct about where it is traditionally worn.

[1stMate Matt]

Hey Ben. I am curious as to why you feel this is a cinquedea. Other then the over size of the piece I dont see much to lead me that way.

To me at minimum the blade would need much more taper. Wider at the shoulders and more narrow at the point.

I also always thought that "5 fingers" meant 5 fullers wide at the base. I have later found that it just means fives fingers wide at the shoulder and that not all models had 5 fullers. However, almost all examples are fullered. Some with 5 then 4 then 3 then 2 then one down the blade. Some start with 3 at the base and some are single fullers. I have even soon some historical examples of raised ridges instead of fullers.

The guard is also one that I have never seen on a cinq. Some have the basic droop shape like yours but most see the classic "V" guard in their head when they hear cinquedea.

I would also make the handle to blade ratio different. if you look at historical examples the handles always look too small for the blades. Also maybe a wheel pommel would help.

I am in no way trying to pick on you. I am a fan of your work. I just dont see Cinquedea at all when I look at this piece.

I would normally never post anything like this but I am kind of a cinquedea fan and have researched them alot over the years.

I look forward to hearing your inspiration for naming it this.

[Privateer Armoury]

For the most part I would agree with you Matt that this in not a typical example of a cinquedea.

The reason I call it a Cinquedea is that is what the customer wanted. He gave me the dimensions for it and specified the grip style and pommel type, and no fullers. I tried to reconcile the specs to the historical pieces but you can only get so far towards five fingers when the blade width is specified at 2".

I will, Lord willing, do a more historically accurate cinquedea in the future (with the wider blade, fullers, classic bone grips, V-guard and V pommel).

[1stMate Matt]

Well then. I couldnt think of a better reason to call it or make it the way you did. Someone paid you to do so. I have certainly done that more times then I would like to admit in my lifetime.

Its a neat lil short sword. Didnt mean to reflect otherwise. Just didnt read cinq to me.

[Elena]

And when you make a real one, would you post it here too? Yes, I admit, I am collecting blades, especially from here I asked permission in some threads to save a cutlass, navaja or whatever.

[Commodore Swab]

Tis a problem at times to want to make the real deal and have customers who want other and then be forced to either make what the want or make the real deal on your own time and money

[Privateer Armoury]

That be the truth. It is really hard to balance those two.

Edited January 28, 2011 by Privateer Armoury