Mortuary sword IX 2205 Royal Armouries Leeds -- myArmoury.com

J Anstey

Hi all,

I am currently having Armour Class make me a Mortuary sword based on Inventory number IX 2205 at the Royal Armouries.

Does anyone her have any pics they can send me or post here? It would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jason

Roger Hooper · Posted: Tue 31 Mar, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject:

If you haven't already done this, you can probably get some photographs from the Royal Armouries. I went to their website and found that photos of that sword are available - http://collections.royalarmouries.org/index.p...IwNSAiO30= -

You need to write an email to the Royal Armouris Library - library@armouries.org.uk - and request those pictures. You must promise that you will not publish those pictures (otherwise you must pay for a license).

To see some photos of another really nice mortuary sword (not IX.2205), go to the Antique Weapons store website - http://www.antiqueweaponstore.com/Exceptional...201640.htm

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Royal Armouries IX.2205

Used as inspiration for CASI's Mortuary Sword.

William Goodwin · Posted: Tue 31 Mar, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

well Nathan beat me to it.....

if you would like to see lots more photos of mortuary hilts ...send me a PM...I have a good sized
photo data base on mortuary's I've collected over the years of my research / obsession with them. Pkus there are a few in the "Album" section here...

http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/thumbnails.php?album=129

cheers,

Bill

J Anstey · Posted: Tue 31 Mar, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

thanks fellas!!!!!!

that is exactly what I needed - hope to show some pic of the reproduction when it is finished.

Cheers

Jason

Roger Hooper · Posted: Tue 31 Mar, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

Looking at that photo. it appears that Hanwei used IX.2205 as the model for their mortuary sword

http://kultofathena.com/s_results.asp?search=...mit=Search

William Goodwin · Posted: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 2:42 am Post subject:

J Anstey · Posted: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 4:00 am Post subject:

.... it was Bill's Armour Class beautiful Mortuary sword that prompted me to contact them to commission this piece.

Will look forward to sharing some pics as soon as possible.

Cheers

Jason

J Anstey · Posted: Sat 30 May, 2009 2:04 am Post subject:

Hi all,

Just received a couple of work in progress pics of my commission and must say that this is looking wonderful and is shaping up better than my high expectations!

Photobucket image

Cheers

Jason

William Goodwin · Posted: Sat 30 May, 2009 3:41 am Post subject:

it's going to be grand I'm sure.... ahhh mortuary's... Happy

Please do keep us posted.

cheers,

Bill

J Anstey · Posted: Wed 31 Mar, 2010 10:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Fellas

Well it has been a long time since the last update.

Here is a couple of pics of the hilt engraving and the completion of the whole project is getting very close.

Photobucket image

William Goodwin · Posted: Thu 01 Apr, 2010 4:46 am Post subject:

that looks bloody fantastic! can't wait to see the whole thing once complete......

cheers,

Bill

J Anstey · Posted: Thu 01 Apr, 2010 5:30 am Post subject:

J Anstey · Posted: Fri 02 Apr, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

and some more Happy

William Goodwin · Posted: Fri 02 Apr, 2010 5:55 pm Post subject:

excuse me while I wipe off my screen..................and say.......oooooo - aahhhhh.......nice!!

J Anstey · Posted: Wed 07 Apr, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject:

... and here is a close-up of the pommell.

Photobucket image

JG Elmslie · Industry Professional

Roger Hooper · Posted: Wed 07 Apr, 2010 7:21 pm Post subject:

Is that Charles I's profile on the pommel? That would truly make it a Mortuary sword.

I can make out the Passau Wolf on the blade. What else has been placed there? I can't quite make it out. (1's and 4's?)

Armour Class is really outdoing themselves on this sword. When they are done, you may have the best Mortuary sword on Earth.

J Anstey · Posted: Wed 07 Apr, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the compliments gentlemen! Happy

I don't know the full history of this sword or who the head belongs to but I hope to learn more here Happy

the marking is XX 1414 XX

J Anstey · Posted: Wed 07 Apr, 2010 7:39 pm Post subject:

Further info from Royal Armories Leeds for those interested

SWORDS OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS

During the English Civil War all types of soldier, cavalry and infantry carried swords. There were different types of sword for cavalry and infantry. In 1645 Parliament ordered 3200 swords and belts at five shillings each. Two hundred of these were for cavalrymen. Today it isn’t known what types are meant for cavalry and which are meant for infantry.

Before the English Civil War many swords were made at the Hounslow sword factory to the west of London. It produced thousands of swords and sword blades. Many swords of the time have blades marked Hounsloe, Hounslo or other versions of Hounslow. The organiser of this factory was Benjamin Stone he became “His Majesty’s blademaker for the office of the Ordnance”. Many of the men who made the sword blades were from Germany.

The Mortuary-Sword
Mortuary-sword is the name given to a type of sword that is unique to Britain. These swords have an iron hilt with bars to protect the hand.

[/b]Some are decorated with heads with long hair, moustaches and small pointed beards. These look like miniature portraits of Charles I.[/b

It was thought that this type of sword was made to commemorate his execution in 1649. Because of that they have been given the name mortuary-sword. But swords of this type were in use long before Charles was executed. The term is still in use to describe this type of sword.

Mortuary swords have lots of other types of decoration. These include figures in armour on horseback, coats of arms and patterns of foliage and piercing. One mortuary sword is the sword carried by Olive Cromwell at the siege of Drogheda. There are marks on the blade where it was hit by musket balls as Cromwell led his men in the attack on the town.