Hey folks,
I have a sword by ArmArt that's been in my collection for a few years now. I like it a lot (and I feel lucky to have actually received it). I've been thinking about getting a helm from the same era/locale as the sword, but I'm not exactly sure where it falls. I have it listed in my collection as from the 13th century based on what their website used to say, though it would probably have to be early in that century if that's correct. I think it is earlier, say the 11th or 12th century. What do you guys think?

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Also, what Oakeshott type would you call the blade? The fuller length is more typical of type XII, but the blade width and taper aren't really. Could it be called a Type XI with a short fuller? Any thoughts on its type?

You know, I have one of those in the shop......... It could be a XII, it could be a XIIIb. If the fuller was longer, maybe a Xa......

I'd guess either a XII or a XIIIb, but it'd be a bit early for a XIIIb.

Maybe a XII with very little profile taper, and a real spatulate point........ or a very early XIIIb.

I think you're pretty good on the date guess........

It could be one of those blades that Oakshot would put into one category even though it fit another if he had made a subtype for the hand and a half version. I can only find one at the moment that he did that with but I think there may be a few others. He says about a XIIIa. that if he had made a subtype for XIa's he would have put this sword in that group but that he has to put it in with the XIIIa's ( see XIIIa.11 in "Records of the Medieval Sword" on page 105).

Very nice sword by the way. This time period is my favorite... Alex

Oakshot dates that sword I was talking about to possibly as early as 1100 all the way up to 1250. Within that time period and the decoration on your sword, I think that it would go well with Crusader/Templar/Hospitaller context.

Alex

Hi Chad. I checked my library and it seems your suspicions were correct. Hoffmeyer has it catagorized between 1100 and 1200 a.d. The pommel, guard and blade all seem to match perfectly. I'm not sure what catagory it would fall into with Oakeshott though.

Don

Thanks for the input, guys. So it looks like the sword is better dated 1100-1200.

Would it be more appropriate to pair this with a Norman conical helm or would a flat-topped pot helm with a face mask be appropriate, too?