Beschreibung:

Medieval Inlaid Long Sword Early-mid 14th century AD A Western long double-edged sword of Oakeshott Type XIIIb with elegant, broad blade, distinctively widening below the hilt, fuller extending halfway of the blade with inlaid maker's mark of the armourer formed as a Latin cross with forked vertical arm, evidence of battlefield use on the edges; wide crossguard and globular style R pommel with inlaid vertical lines. 1.4 kg, 89cm (35"). 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, R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960; Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001; similar specimen from Sotheby's, London 1935, dated circa 1150 AD (Oakeshott, 2001, p.83); another well-preserved sword of this type in the collection of M. Charles Boissonnas in Geneva with narrower blade. Footnotes The Oakeshott Type XIIIb sword is a one-handed arming sword, designed to combat the rise of heavier armours used by foot-soldiers on the battlefields of the 13th and 14th centuries. The most notable in the English effigies are those on the brasses of the two Sir John D'Abernons (1277 and 1327, church at Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey, Sir John the Younger), Sir Robert de Septvans (1306), Sir? Fitzralph (1323) and Sir John de Creke (1326), as well as the effigies of an Astbury at Astbury in Cheshire (1300) and of de Montfort at Hitchendon, Bucks (c. 1290). Primarily used by knights on horseback, a slash from one of these swords was devastatingly effective, tearing through ring mail armour and scattering foot-soldiers in its wake.