Posts: 1,089 Location: Austin TX
Mon 15 Sep, 2008 3:31 am
Hi,
I was lucky enough to see the type XIV from the Morosini collection in the Met a month ago. That particular sword has always been the sword of all swords in my mind, since I saw it in the pages of the "Record of the medieval sword". Apart from the heritage item edition shown in the arms and armor website, I have not yet seen a replica that was really true to the original.
Deltin has two versions inspired by this sword (identical but of different sizes), and MRL had its medieval short sword (or Dracula sword). The windlass version being itself inspired by the deltin one, all these are very similar in the end, and in my opinion, none are really true to the original. The blade profile is much narrower especially toward the end of the fueller, when the blade profile changes from fuellered to diamond shape towards the tip (the tip is also much more acute). As a result, if found that those seem to lack the authority of the original (even if the Deltin version does indeed look great in Gary Oldman's hand in Dracula :) )
The met sword really is stunning for such a plain/functional weapon. It has no complex hilt nor ornaments so what sets it apart is quiet subtle. I think the sheer size of the blade has much to do with it (it is both unusually long for a one handler and broad too). I took a couple of pictures (below), in haste before running to JFK airport.
Also I did ask Arms and Armor for a quote of their heritage version of this very sword a while ago (2 years) and here is the quote I had:
"The Met sword runs about 1500.00 with out the inscriptions in steel. If you
would like Silver plate on the guard and the silver rings with inscriptions
soldered to the pommel as the original it would be more. We can do the guard
in Latten like the original as well but that does add to the cost and if it
is covered in silver anyway does not add greatly to the look."
Still out of my reach :)
Cheers.
Julien
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