MEDIEVAL IRON SWORD WITH HANDLE AND INLAY

Ca. 1410-1510 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A stunning, forged-iron long sword of the Oakeshott Type XVIIIa with a slender hand guard, a discoid pommel, and rounded guards. The narrow triangular blade is complete with a deep fuller that traverses almost halfway down from the tang base as well as sharpened edges that taper downwards to form the acutely pointed tip; the blade displays an inlaid cross pattern decoration. Excellent condition; custom-made stand included. The Oakeshott Type XVIIIa was a very popular sword because, by the 15th century, the battlefield required a much more versatile weapon. Thrusting swords were still needed to deal with plate armour, which by this period was essentially invulnerable to cuts. But the armour of the average infantryman was becoming more mobile and less armoured as the use of longbows, crossbows and other missile weapons began to dominate the battlefield. For more information on Medieval swords, see Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1998). Records of the medieval sword. Boydell Press.Size: L:985mm / W:145mm ; 1kgProvenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s