Irish Arms Irish Iron Age Short "sword"
Original: Circa 1st-3rd century AD
Irish Iron Age "swords" to date are distinct from both Continental and British finds of the period. They tend to be quite small and broad, with blade lengths merely the size of large daggers. According to Professor Barry Raftery's classification, those found with no metallic hilt fittings at all (i.e. no curved plate at the shoulders) are classified as Type II swords and are thought to date from the early centuries AD.
This piece shows features from several Irish iron-age swords. The blade has the profile shape of the Lisnacrogher find, and the cross-sectional characteristics of the Ballinderry sword. The hilt is modeled directly after the hilt of the wooden Ballykilmurray bog sword.
The blade is double-fullered EN45 steel. The hilt is native Irish oak, with "burn-through" construction. The burn through was not completely straight, thus the slight asymmetries of the piece. The tang is peened over a small brass washer at the pommel.
Overall length: 24"
Weight: 1.3125 pounds
Width of guard: 3.125"
Blade: 16.5" long; 2" wide tapering to .875"
Hilt length: 7.125"
Point of Balance (PoB): 3.875" from guard
Maker:
Irish Arms of Ireland.
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