Beschreibung:

Medieval Double-Handed Bastard Sword 1270-1330 AD An iron bastard sword of Oakeshott Type XIIIA with long tapering blade, narrow fuller divided into two parallel lines; straight lower guard and long grip; oval-shaped pommel of type K fitted with a central boss. 1.8 kg, 1.23m (48 3/4"). Fine condition. Provenance From a 1980s collection, acquired by the vendor’s family; thence by descent; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato Literature See Oakeshott, E., The archaeology of the weapons, arms and armours from Prehistory to the age of Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1960 (1999); Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; a very similar type in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, a river-find in excellent condition, see Oakeshott, 1991, pp. 104-105. Footnotes The sword of this typology is a powerful two-handed cutting sword, easily identified by the long, wide blade with the edges swelling slightly at the base, and running parallel before terminating in a spatulate tip. These weapons are generally considered to be of German origin, since they are referred to as Grans espeès d'Allemagne ("Big Swords of Germany") due to the frequency in which they appear on 14th century German iconographic monuments. Research has shown, though, that many Spanish effigies of the same period show these swords; and a few English effigies show them as well. These swords were devastatingly effective in slashing attacks from horseback or two-handed use when dismounted.