Concerning "Brazil Nut" pommels / Oakeshott pommels type A/B -- myArmoury.com

Francisco Simões

The Oakeshott pommel type A and B or best known as the “Brazil nut” pommels, seems to be the omen of an ending era and the beginning of other in the Western Europe sword’s timeline. On the other hand it also seems that at least from Oakeshott type X until type XII these kind of pommels where used!

These pommels tend to awake two very diverging feelings among the sword users and collectors communities. Either some love it or hate it!
There are obviously two concerns here, the practical and the aesthetical.
For myself I ordered two types of sword that do have the Brazil nut, being the aesthetics my primal concern as I’m not a swordsmanship practitioner, tough being very interested on sword handling characteristics. I reorder an Albion Reeve, as I had to sell my first one, and ordered a Gaddhjalt. While I’m waiting, I thought to know better my newcomers!

I would invite you fellow members to debate your own experiences, photos and feelings on these kinds of pommels and swords.
Godspeed

P. Cha · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

I'm kinda meh about em. They aren't my favorite pommel designs nor my hated ones (personally I like round and hate fishtales). Practically speaking, they kind are the worst design since it pretty much negates the ability of a second hand on the sword....unlike my hated fishtale pommel which are some of the most practical design for this. Yes the round also isn't very good for this aspect as well...but thats what I like the looks of Happy

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Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject:

I've been playing with one lately (a one-hand, brazil nut pommel sword that is) and quite like it. The heavy pommel provides a good balance for a broad bladed cutter, and its shape provides for smooth and natural transitions from hammer to handshake grip. One can very easily see this as a logical transition from the earlier viking forms to the various types that were more popular in the later medieval era.

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject:

Brazil nut and tea cozy (type B) pommels are my absolute favorite pommel types. I find that the various shapes of these specimen have such an austere beauty that blends so elegantly in the type X, but even more so the type Xa and XI blades- just stunning. They also correspond to my favorite period of European A&A in terms of collecting and study (the late 11th, and 12th c.). The combination of one of these swords with a long kite shield and conical helm just seals the deal for me.

In fact I am on Patrick Barta's long waiting list to commission a sword based on XI.5 in Records- a truly exquisite piece in my opinion- featuring an iron type B pommel that was once covered in gold.

Disc and wheel pommels are way too overdone- but that's just me. Wink

P. Cha · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

Eric Myers · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

P. Cha · Posted: Tue 29 Apr, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

Francisco Simões · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 3:01 am Post subject:

My historic most favourite is the ULFBERHT in “Swords of the Viking Age” by Ian Peirce, page124 and 125. If I would commission a Brazil Nut kind it would be that one, or the X.13 on Records!

I think the beauty on these swords is the clash between the ancient world, a more Pagan one, and a new world, a more Christian one. We can find blades with pagan inlays and others with Christian inlays. I think it would be common to find both on the same shield wall!

Francisco Simões · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 5:10 am Post subject:

P. Cha wrote:
Well then it's a good thing you can bash people over the head with a shield now ain't it Wink

How could you, as you had your's already broken? Wink

Chase S-R · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

I have an older MRL my first and last MRL sword!!! It is THE LATE NORMAN SWORD with a green suede grip and nickle wire. I bought it after seeing a similiar original in leeds. The pommel shape I love but on that sword combined with the length of that grip makes it quite uncomforatable to wield. i have also held and swung the Albion Reeve which also as you stated has a Brazil nut pommel, on that sword it is quite comforatable. I have been able to hold my MRL with two hands and if you grip only the pommel with your left hand it is quite comforatable.

Gary A. Chelette · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

I have a Del Tin St. Maurice and I love the way it feels and handles. The pommel can also double as a mace when used right.

These types of pommels give me a more secure hold on the sword. I also dislike fishtails.
http://www.deltin.net/2130.htm

J.D. Crawford · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

D. Nogueira · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know how popular this pommel type was during its time?
I read someplace (Don't remember the source at all...) that they once were even more popular or common than wheel or disc pommels. Can this be true? I would have thought the contrary...

Allow me just a little consideration about some posts I've read here:
I am not telling anyone how to grip a sword, but please remember that if you hit targets while firmly gripping the pommel you are placing a lot more stress on the tang than when holding the sword just by the grip.

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

D. Nogueira · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject:

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Chase S-R · Posted: Wed 30 Apr, 2008 11:47 pm Post subject:

you see wheel pommels on the bayeux tapestry, and the leppaho viking swords...... Actually on the tapestry 1066 you see many wheel pommels and few brazil nuts. Could the wheel pommel have been more poular with the french? Or could the wheel pommel and brazil nut be pretty equal in popularity? Or as the tapestry [/i]could[/i] have been made as late as 1090 [/i]could[/i] this show a form that is becoming more popular? there are more brazil nut finds in archeaology of the time in question then there are of wheel pommels, i believe (i have seen more in museums any way....) Happy

Francisco Simões · Posted: Thu 01 May, 2008 7:43 am Post subject:

I may have the wrong idea, but to me is very clear the position in time of the Brazil nut pommels. They came first, and they were popular first, being substituted progressively over time by the wheel pommel, sharing at some point of the same popularity though.
The position in space of the Brazil nut to me is more unclear. I may venture saying that it would have been a more Rhine, British Isles and places of Saxon/Viking "High Time" influence. And the wheel pommel may have been more of Norman (Descendents of Vikings in northern France and England), logically of later presence.
I believe that maybe by the time of the first crusade these two pommels types where sharing numbers in the battlefields of Western Europe hands.

Brandon Minton · Posted: Thu 01 May, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

It'd be nice if we could have an expert answer this question of the comprehensive distributions of wheel vs. Brazilian-nut pommels by archaeological date. Anyone up to the task?

I also agree with Francisco that these swords are in some ways examples of weapons caught at the clash between Christian and Pagan times in Northern Europe. The transition between Norse to Norman, from Viking to Crusader. I think this concept is what makes so much of the romance of the Brazilian-nut pommeled swords as they are iconic representations of the end of the Viking-era and the beginning of the Medieval era...when men went from free men to either serfs or nobles under feudalism. This little to no profile tapered, type X, funny little nut pommeled sword for sure represents a very harsh but adventurous time in history.