Today we are taking a look at a one of medieval single handed sword available in our Artisan Section. This is a single item available right now based on a sword from the mid 12th Century. It is light and fast in the hand and cuts very well. Swords of this style where seen in the many conflicts that ranged across the kingdoms of Europe and their attempts to take control of areas in the Middle East and Byzantine Empire.
The sword is mounted with a hilt of steel furniture which includes an Oakeshott Type E pommel and Style 3 cross guard. The straight 4.5 inch grip is covered in brown leather over a wood base. The blade is a Type Xa that is 31.6" in length with a sharply defined fuller running to within a hands breadth of the point.
The type E pommel is one of the later forms that evolved from the viking style of pommels and in the same group as the Brazil nut and diamond shaped pommels of the last half of the 1100's.
Henry II and his Wife Eleanor of Aquitaine
This style of sword would have been seen in the hands Henry II's knights in his quest to gain territory and possessions stretching from Toulouse in the south of France to England, Wales and Scotland in the north. The many conflicts of this period between Henry and Louis VII of France created the need for many weapons and armor and this style of sword would have been common among the knights of their armies.
See the sword page here.
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is Vice President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985.