MEDIEVAL IRON SWORD WITH HANDLE

Ca. 1250-1350 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A stunning, forged-iron long sword of the Oakeshott Type XIIa.4 with a long hilt and a flat disc pommel where the broad chamfers have been cut into octagonal facets. The cross is lenticular. The arms are slim and slightly curved towards the blade. 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. 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:1030mm / W:210mm ; 1.2kg. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s.