Forget the film image of a knight heaving a great iron bar. A real crusader's sword was a precision instrument — light, fast and finely balanced. The typical arming sword weighed only about a kilogram to a kilogram and a half, roughly two and a half to three and a half pounds, nearer a modern épée than a crowbar, made to stay quick in the hand through a long day of fighting. It was also, quite literally, a cross: the straight guard and grip form the cruciform hilt, and crusader blades were often inscribed with holy words — "in nomine domini," in the name of the Lord — so a man went into battle with a prayer in his fist.

This foot knight is caught in the crouch of a hard fight — down on one knee behind his shield, sword thrust out low, in mail and a red surcoat with a red cap and a blue cloak swept back. King & Country note he is an alternative colour version of one of their foot knights, so he pairs naturally with the Fighting Crusader Knight with Sword. Rank the two of them under a famous blade like Richard the Lionheart, or set him behind his shield to meet the attacking Saracen in a duel diorama. Braced low like this, he is the knight not charging but surviving — the sword doing the close, quick work it was actually built for.

Model: MK214 / King & Country / 1/30 (60mm) scale / matte finish / 1 piece set