Sword

Broadsword. Hilt involves a steel knuckle bow with two horizontal placed guards, one on each side of the hilt. The obverse one swells slightly at its mid-point and the reverse one, which is broken, has a thumb ring or vertical steel loop connecting it to the top of the grip. There is a single upturned quillon, a flattened oval pommel to which the knuckle is attached by a screw, and a prominent tang button. The grip is of smooth (maybe polished) wood. The knuckle bow has two balls at its mid-point. It seems likely that the whole of the hilt was once painted black, traces of this remain. The blade has a straight double-edge, with a 178mm long fuller each side starting 13mm from the hilt. Of near even taper, the blade comes to a sudden point within the last 25mm of its length. Inscribed on the obverse and reverse are the 'running wolf' and the numbers '1 4 1 4'. The scabbard is wood, made in two pieces joined back and front, covered with dark brown leather (some of it missing). A brass chape (rough) is fitted but any top locket or means of suspension is missing.

Although there is nothing specifically maritime about this sword, it is undeniably a fighting weapon. Its length suggests that it is more appropriate to a mounted soldier than anyone else, but it could also be of the type used at sea. It is perhaps the case that the short, handy hanger, used instead of the rapier, or that sword's derivatives was not the only type of fighting sword used at sea. There is a possibility that the hilt of this sword is a development of the 'Walloon' hilt of the Thirty Years' War period lacking the pierced shells. For some general notes on swords of this date, see Claude Blair's European and American Arms (Batsford). The 'running wolf' mark of Passau and Solingen indicates that the blade is of German manufacture. It has been suggested that the figures '1 4 1 4' are an indication of the quality of the blade.

Object Details

ID: WPN1348
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Late 17th century
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Blade: 838 x 32 mm
Parts: Sword