MEDIEVAL IRON SWORD WITH HANDLE

Ca. 1360-1410 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A stunning, forged-iron long sword of the Oakeshott Type XVa.6 with a long hilt and a deep wheel pommel. The cross is straight and rather long with a neat rhomboidal section, which widens strongly at its mid-point to form an ecusson over the rib of the blade. The arms taper elegantly to the tips which turn abruptly downward through a right-angle. The high Middle Ages saw swordsmiths develop new types of blades to combat the ever-increasing usage of plate armour. Against these defences, early-styled swords with light, flat cutting blades lost much of their effectiveness. Warriors and craftsmen of the day saw the need for more acutely pointed blades with cross-sections reinforced for thrusting. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Excellent condition. For more information on Medieval swords, see Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1998). Records of the medieval sword. Boydell Press. Size: L:320mm / W:210mm ; 555g. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s