12th-late 13th century AD. A long double-edged cutting sword with broad tapering blade, the cutting edges bearing a lot of evidence of use on the battlefield; the fullers decorated with later inlays of three potent crosses; the guard of type 1, the broad but short tang, tapering towards a plain walnut style pommel, D-shaped with slightly curved lower edge (type A"). Cf. Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002. 1.47 kg, 93.5cm (37"). From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister; from her collection formed early 1960s-1990s. The sword finds good parallels with a sword published by Peirce, from a private collection (Peirce, 2002, pp.124-125"). Most probably our specimen is a battlefield or a river find, or from a grave. Many swords of similar type can be classified as German craftsmanship, and we know that this kind of pommel was in use until the 13th century. The straight guard with thick straight quillons are typical of the style Xa (and XI) of Oakeshott, that, with its double-edged blade, combined the cutting and the cut-and-thrust styles.

Fine condition.