Here's another very interesting sword from the Royal Armouries, Leeds, online database. Note the short, straight cross and long, straight blade.

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Sean,

How long is that blade? It definitely looks like a cavalry sword in the 40"+ range.

Man oh man, I love those. Such a nice blade.

Yes, it is very long. Just the thing for some thug astride a bog-trotter. :D

No stats, unfortunately, but there is a bit more info:
Object #IX.4427
Object history note Excavated from the north bank of the river Thames at Southwark Bridge


Here's another view, that may give a better idea of size (I'll take the middle sword here, though):

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a rather lengthy bugger it is.....and ditto on taking the one in the middle.....


cheers,

Bill

Love this sword it has been one of my favorites since I first laid eyes on it. Its definitely one of those Sean, don't you think? Several years ago a fellow who liked this type comissioned one from us. It took quite a whiole to get right and I had some issues but it turned out quite nicely in the end. I have stats but I do not have them to hand,anyone that has the first issue of The Oakeshott Journal they are in there with pics.

Here are some pics of the finished replica

Blued as finished for customer.
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Here is brushed steel before blueing
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It is a significant weapon in the hand and one that would do Mr Silver quite proud I think.

Best
Craig

Found the stats:

Overall L: 1105mm, 43.5"
Blade L: 950mm, 37.4"
Blade W at hilt: 40mm, 1.57"
Ricasso L: 70mm, 2.75"
Hilt H: 155mm, 6.1 W: 195mm, 7.67"
Grip L: 83mm, 3.26"
Pommel W: 60mm, 2.36" H 58mm, 2.28"
Wt: 1.5Kg, 3.21lbs

Craig,

You'd knew you'd get my attention by posting that.

Damn you. That's fantastic.

Hm. The blade is too huge for my taste and I'm not sure about the large spherical pommel either.

But on the other hand, that's one gorgeous basket.

:eek: That's beautiful, Craig! That blade...! I need that blade!

Sean,
Thanks for starting this thread. About 4 years ago Thomas MacDonald sent me a photo of this hilt without any other info, and I always wondered what the blade looked like: now I know! The reason for my curiosity was that I decided to make a sword for myself, and have decided on this one for the inspiration.

--ElJay

Sean,

The middel one you like in your above photo reminds me quite a lot of the one Vlad. makes.
When I first saw it I drooled all over the keyboard!

See attached.

All the best,
Richard.

Please forgive me for adding the pictures, I do not mean to hi-jack the thread.

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That's a lovely looking sword you've made Craig. Aside from a very attractive hilt I must say the fullers on the blade looks awsome! They give the sword a very serious look.

Cheers,
Henrik

I was looking at these types of hilts lately and remember a very similar hilt to the one above that is found at the Royal Armouries, ix.2574. It was once in Claude Blair's collection.

Does it look, to you guys, if this has a double-fullered backsword blade? I wish I had an overall view of this sword.

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This same sword is pictured in Wallace's "Scottish Swords and Dirks" and also in Mazansky's book, but neither author comments specifically on this blade and there are no shots showing any more of the blade than what you have. It does appear to be as you decribe, however. Wallace does say that "Blades in the 17th century appear to have been exclusively double-edged, though basket-hilt swords of a known English kind in the late 16th century were furnished with single-edged blades" - from the pictures and captions later in the chapter it seems clear that he is referring to this type of hilt.
Multiple fullers were common on both single and double edged blades by this time.

Edit-Wallace does say that the blade is 33-1/2" long but does not comment further.