MEDIEVAL IRON SWORD WITH INLAID CROSS

Ca. 1257-1340 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A beautiful forged Oakeshott type XIV.9 longsword with a short grip and a flat disc pommel with inlaid crosses on both sides. The cross is rather long and slightly arched. The taper straight arms are slightly "waisted" and flare back to their original width at the terminal. Swords of this type retain the blade form inherited from their Viking forebears: blades that taper little in width, creating a wide, flat, relatively thin tip for maximum cutting power. In the High Middle Ages, swordsmiths developed new types of blades to combat the ever-increasing use of plate armour. Against this armour, the early swords with their light, flat blades lost much of their effectiveness. The warriors and craftsmen of the time saw the need for more pointed blades with reinforced cross-sections 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:715mm / W:155mm ; 845g. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s.