Falchions from Blair's European & American Arms -- myArmoury.com

Danny Grigg

Approximately two months ago I purchased a copy of the book "European & American Arms by Claude Blair".

Amongst the photo plates there are 2 interesting / unusual falchions (see attached pics).

Does anyone have any further information about these falchions (dimensions, weight, provenance, further pics etc)?

Does anyone have any thoughts about these falchions?

Has anyone seen any similar falchions? If so please post pics.

Unfortunately the book provides no further information about them.

The Acknowledgment page in the book provides the following:

Institut Royal du Patrimonie Artistique and the Director of the Musee Royal d'Armes et d'Armures, Porte de Hal, Brussels for figs. 25, 318, 320, 345 and 406 (copyright A.C.L. Bruxelles).

The Director of the Museo Arqueologico Provincial de Cordoba, for fig. 40

Thanks

Danny

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 20 May, 2010 6:53 am Post subject:

Here's the first one, from the Armoury of the Dukes of Burgundy in Brussels ( http://www.truefork.org/Photography/Burgundian_Armoury.php )

Danny Grigg · Posted: Thu 20 May, 2010 7:00 am Post subject:

Sean

Thanks for that.

The website states "14th century falchion (broken)".

I wonder if that is just a comment by the individual who took the photo or not?

Thanks once again.

Danny

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 20 May, 2010 7:41 am Post subject:

The date and condition appear to be correct. I would guess that this weapon was originally of the same form as the second (like the Thorpe Falchion). However, I dimly recall that there were squared-off falchions.

Danny Grigg · Posted: Thu 20 May, 2010 4:01 pm Post subject:

I too seem to recall reading somewhere that there were squared off falchions as well....

If it is broken then it has broken off very neatly / uniformly.

I always assumed that when a sword blade broke it would be very jagged, unless of course the blade was reshaped after the break.

Has anyone come across any other little known medieval falchions?

For all the talk about falchions being quite rare there does appear to be a dozen or more scattered across the various museums in the world.

Danny

Mark T · Posted: Sat 22 May, 2010 9:42 pm Post subject:

Here's the website of the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/museos/MAECO/?lng=en

A quick browse doesn't show that second falchion, but perhaps you could contact them?

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

I see what may be a break in the blade above the blunt tip. See below.

Danny Grigg · Posted: Wed 26 May, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject:

Chad

I guess that is possible, that same indentation appears on the pic Sean posted.

Do you know of any other squared off falchions?

I know that there are executioner swords that are squared off and there's a celtic sword as well that is squared off.

The pic in Blair's book of that falchion is only 9 x 2.5 cm and its rather dark and grainy, so when you scan it and blow it up its get very fuzzy. Makes it difficult to see specific details.

Mark

I guess I will contact the museum and see what they see, however the last few times I have contacted museums via email I received no replies, so I won't be holding my breath.

Thanks

Danny