Medieval Short Sword

[Jack Loomes]

Editor's Note: Text below provided directly as translated by Google from the original German text. Note that as is often the case, medieval short swords are assigned as "boy's swords", "riding swords" or as is the case here "servile" without archaeological and historical justification for such a designation. It seems to consistently elude assessors and many authors as well that short swords were used for war in the middle ages and the age of migration just as short swords were used in warfare by the Romans and their predecessors, and that short swords actually offer some advantages over longer swords (a fact which completely eludes most modern "western martial artists", particularly the 'longsword clique' who unbeknownst to themselves studying the "manuals" are actually practising civilian and at best judicial duelling, not medieval warfare).

Lot Nr. 3267

Servile short sword, German, 11th / 12th Century.

Width, double-edged blade with slightly curved quillons, conical, perforated fishing and other open-Brazil-nut pommel to hold the grip ends. Cleaned excavation discovery with good substance. Length of 59.5 cm.

Condition: III Limit: 800 EURO February 2015

Source: www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm69.pl?f=NR_LOT&c=3267&t=temartic_A_GB&db=kat69_a.txt