just poking around the site killing a little time, and i again looked over the review of Albion's Tritonia. the sword itself is very interesting (i have had the pleasure of handling one) and what especially intrigues me is the spherical pommel.

my question is that i have had difficulty finding any other pictures or information on similar swords with what sounds to be a pommel type that was only very popular for a short time in a particular locale in Europe. if anyone has any other information on similar examples so that i may study a broader range of the type, i would appreciate the help.

thanks in advance!

I'm going to move this to the historic arms talk forum because it talks more about the sword, than the review. It will probably get a lot more traffic there.

Cheers!

Ewart Oakeshott has this pommel listed in his typology in his book, The Archeology of Weapons. This is the only literary reference I have seen that discussed this specific pommel type.

Here's what Oakeshott says in The Sword in the Age of Chivalry:

Quote:

Type R Pommel: A spherical pommel, survivors being more rare than one might expect of such an obviously practical forom of pommel. Two are in the London Museum, the first on a sword of Viking type where it looks most congruous, yet it is no replacement. It has a simple decoration of floral sprigs in the manner of many 9th-10th century swords of Frankish origin. The second spherical pommel is on a fine sword of Type XVI of c. 1300 which was found in Cannot Street in London. In the Maciejowski Bible, the drawing of Goliath shows a pommel of exactly similar form and decoration.

Peter is away on holiday for a few more days, and has limited access to the Internet in the meantime. I would like to add some to what Eric said. Oakeshott said in the preface of one of his books that he was aware that he hadn't visited e.g. Sweden and the collections here, which might explain why some types are less prominent in his writings. Another thing is that there are many swords that have catalog entries, but which haven't been described in print. For example, Peter, Eric and I saw two stunning medieval (14th-15th C) swords in a collection complete with scabbards, the latter being extremely rare. They are unknown to the public mostly due to the fact that no one has written anything on them, perhaps not even been aware how unique they are. So, there's still a lot to do for the researchers and scholars out there.

thanks for the information, gentlemen, and thanks for the move, Nathan - i just clicked a link as i was reading.

Nathan, i would be interested in learning more about the type XVI mentioned from Oakeshott in the London museum as the type in particular seems to be becoming my favorite. is there an online source documenting the museum pieces or a book perhaps?

Eric, i would be very interested in seeing any notes from your expedition with Peter if at all possible. I was hoping someone from Albion would post seeing as these swords seem to pop up in Peter's back yard often enough.

thanks again for the time!

PS: Eric, i know it is probably a little early to tell, but will i have the opportunity to examine Tritonia at Lanzefest? (. . . and maybe, just maybe, bask in the divine presence of the Sovereign. . . :D )

Eric,
Since we're talking Museum Line I thought I'd ask this as a long shot- not exprecting much info mind you. :) But can you give any impressions of what the upcomming SOSM-T will be like- have you handled the origonal. Any ideas on weight. I don't even know really what type it is. The only picture I have is the top section in "The Arms and Armour of the Medieval Knight." Thanks, Jeremy

I have seen pommels like that on a few zweihänder swords.

Thank you Howy,
36 inch blade- now that's a big'un! Damn! I was hoping for a real fighter- something that could be used by the infantryman as well as the cavalry, but alas! you guys will reproduce what you choose. I will wait and see and continue to send money. Must... send.... money.... to Albion. . . . . . God! How rediculous does that sound? And the sad thing is that I;m not sucking up!!
I know that you guys have things set up for awhile ahead but have you given any thought to a Museum Line sword akin to the knight- something for the infantry? Just a thought, Thanks, Jeremy
P.S. Please continue to pay attention to the high middle ages. (1050-1300) Listen, you guys are great and I, as well as others sharing this period of interest, are looking to you to keep making these brutally efficient implements of war. ;) [/b]