Posts: 1,085 Location: Finland
Tue 26 Dec, 2006 6:13 am
The closest historical equivalents would be Northern Italian 15th-16th Century two-handers, in the vein of, for example, Del Tin models
5167 and
2162. As far as I can tell, the defining characteristics that make it Italian rather than Germanic are primarily the plain, straight crossguard, the simple triangular lugs (the smallish pointed protrusions right below the blunt ricasso) perpendicular to the blade, the lack of siderings on the guard, and generally the overall visual simplicity.
Of course, Navarre's claim that the sword had been in his family for five generations by the time of the story (13th or 14th Century, depending on who you ask) makes the design rather inappropriate, historically. :)