The British Proof Test for Swords

The British Proof Test was created to ensure soldiers would only be issued weapons of the highest quality. For a sword to pass the entire British Proof Test, it must pass each of these six tests:

Test 1: Hit the cutting edge of the sword or saber HARD on a heavy wood block. The blade must remain straight and the handle, guard and tang, etc, must all remain rigidly in place with no bending, loosening, rattling, twisting, or turning at all or the sword fails.

Test 2: Hit the back of the blade HARD on a heavy wood block. The blade must remain straight and true and the handle, guard and tang, etc, must all remain rigidly in place with not bending, loosening, rattling, twisting, or turning at all or the sword fails.

Test 3: Hit the flat side of the blade hard on the wooden block and the blade must not bend. The blade must recover and come back truly straight. If it bends or takes a “set” other than straight it must be rejected.

Test 4: Same as test #3 except the other side of the blade is to be struck.

Test 5: Set the point of the sword on a heavy wood block and flex the blade 5” to the left. It must recover to truly straight. If the blade bends or takes a set other than straight I must be rejected.

Test 6: Same as #5 but the blade is flexed to the right.