Ignite Templar Action Figure Review

I've had my Knight Templar from Ignite Toys for about a year now. I love it. In fact, I'm thinking about picking up their Knight Hospitaller figure too. The detail on the Templar is astounding. Follow along, and you'll see what I mean.
Here's what you get in you box. The figure is already fully dressed. He's dressed in layers that aren't readily apparent until you examine the genuine article. He's wearing a mail hauberk and laeggings, with a mail coif. The mail is actually fabric, but the visual scale effect is superb. His hauberk is edged in faux leather, and underneath he is wearing an undercoat gambeson to pad his body against the mail.

Over his armor is the Templar surcoat with the large emblazoned red cross centered on the chest. I was pleased that Ignite got the cross type correct. Templars did not use the pointed Maltese cross, which was in fact used mostly by the Knights Hospitaller. There is a great deal of controversy about exactly what type of cross was used at what time, but this pattern with the flaired ends is widely recognized as being in use by the Order. The other controversy about the cross has to do with how it was worn. Some records indicate a smaller cross worn over the heart, but this would have been obscured in battle by the shield held against the left side of the body. Also, "small" is a subjective term. Although we don't know if the centered cross is 100% accurate, it is at least universally recognizable.

The figure's head is well-sculpted and painted. He actually has a cloth headpiece underneath the mail coif to protect his scalp. His helmet is a simple, riveted Norman style without a nose piece. This would've been somewhat unusual for the era, which was moving toward greater facial protection, not less, but not unheard of.

You'll note the beard. Shaving was actually the norm for most Frankish nobles. They were a vain bunch, and shaving made them appear younger. There may have been a hygiene component to the practice too. Military men would've been happy to give lice and vermin one less place to hide. However, Templars were required to grow beards as a sign of masculine power to the Muslims, who regarded clean shaven men as sissies.
Here's a good shot of the sword and sword belt. Also note how good the mail mitten looks close-up. The sword belt is wonderful. It's more accurate than belt and frog I have for my own 12th Century-style broadsword. It's a little more ornate than I would've expected for a Poor Knight of the Temple of Solomon, but not too far off the mark. A nitpicker might ask if the sword is in the appropriate time, it appears to be a sword from the High Middle Ages, but you really have to know your swords and be looking super close to notice that kind of detail.
Strangely, the knight comes with a battle axe. Axes were fairly common as a Crusader weapon, but were used mostly by foot soldiers. This Templar is recognizable as a true knight by his white surcoat. He would've fought mostly from horseback, and should be have a lance as his primary weapon. However, since no horse is included, maybe he's besieging a Saracen castle and like the axe for close encounters.
The shield is gorgeous. (The photographer has positioned the arm wrong here. The figure's holding it upside-down.) This a back view showing the enarmes straps for the warrior to grasp the shield, and the guige strap to wear it between fights. There is also a padding strip to cushion blows against the arm. This padding was common, but not universal.
This is the escutcheon of the shield, showing the Red Cross of the Order. Again, there's controversy about the device displayed on the Templar shields. We're fairly certain there was more-or-less uniformity, but uniformity of what we don't know. It may have been crosses. It might also have been a black band across the top with a white field below -- or vice versa. Confused?
All in all, a great figure with a high level of authenticity.