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Sean Flynt
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 Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 7:59 am Post subject: Castillon Sword! |
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Don't overlook the huge image in last attachment below. The only way you'll get a better view of this sword is to hold it in your hands. Maybe not even then!
From the most recent Hermann Historica auctions:
Lot Nr.2777
A sword from the Battle of Castillon 1453
found in Castillon-la-Bataille
Very wide, robust double-edged thrusting blade of flattened diamond section, tapering toward the point, the foible with one loss through combat use, wide iron cross hilt, straight, bevelled cross-guard with "ecusson" and down-curved arms, wide tapering tang with remnants of a wooden grip, heavy iron disc pommel with engraved ornamental lines and concave edges, the recessed medallions with pins, and a tall top nut. Total length 93 cm, blade length 75.4 cm, greatest width of blade 6.9 cm, length of the tang 9.9 cm. Weight 1660 g. Dark brown to blackish river patina in the form of goethite (hydrated iron oxide). The material is in remarkably good condition, only small losses.
Provenance: Dordogne or Lidoire in the vicinity of Castillon-la-Bataille. To date, 80 swords of medieval origin have been found at this site.
The Battle of Castillon put an end to the so-called "Hundred Years' War" between France and England. On 17th July 1453, the 60-year-old English commander Talbot ordered to attack the French position south of Castillon after receiving false information that the enemy was retreating and that an epidemic had broken out in the camp. However, the English attack failed, Talbot and his son were killed, and the remaining survivors tried to take flight in panic.
Cf. E. Oakeshott, "A river-find of 15th century swords", in Blankwaffen - Festschrift Hugo Schneider zum 65. Geburtstag 1982 (the type corresponds to no. 10/11) as well as L. Thompson in "The sword treasure trove" in Man at Arms, Lincoln USA, August 1997.
To date, this sword is the fourth edged weapon found at the site of the Battle of Castillon offered for sale at auction by Hermann Historica. We find it to be the most splendid sword of the entire group. Cf. Hermann Historica, Auction 50, 27/28 of April 2006, lot 2012. See also the other swords of this group, Hermann Historica: 58th auction on 8 October 2009 (lot 530), 50th auction on 28 April 2006 (lot 2012), 35th auction on 23 October 1997 (lot 1146), and 38th auction on 28 October 199 (lot 819).
Condition: II Limit: 30000 EURO
Währungsrechner / Currency converter
Zuschlag 40000 EURO
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[ Download ]
-Sean
Author of the Little Hammer novel
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Luka Borscak
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Powerful and elegant sword! Quite heavy but I suppose a lot of the weight is in the pommel...
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 10:05 am Post subject: |
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So which one of my fellow forumites will pick up this little trifle. . . hmm. 
Sadly, I can't put aside the pittance necessary at this time. . .
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Sean Flynt
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Jean Henri Chandler
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Sean Flynt
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Roger Hooper
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a photo of some of the other Castillon/Dordogne swords. It doesn't look like this sword is pictured there, thought there are some very similar ones in group A.
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Jean Henri Chandler
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Are those photos to scale? And are they all from the same period? What kind of date range are they in?
J
Books and games on Medieval Europe Codex Integrum
Codex Guide to the Medieval Baltic Now available in print
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Scott Hrouda
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Sean Flynt wrote: | | I'll post an update as soon as I've cleaned off all of that black junk (might need to get a few more 80 grit belts). |
I will admit that there was a single nanosecond when my mind was screaming at you to STOP.  
The simplicity of the pommel and cross are very attractive. Thank you for posting this beautiful weapon.
...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Jean Henri Chandler wrote: | Are those photos to scale? And are they all from the same period? What kind of date range are they in?
J |
Jean,
These are all supposed to date from prior to 1453, the date of the Battle of Castillon. They are thought to have sunk on a barge around the time of the battle. They may have been English supplies or loot captured from the English by the French. So the terminal date ought to be 1453. Some may have an initial date as early as the late 14th century.
Oakeshott and others have published a handful of articles on these swords. Well worth a read.
Check out this thread, too: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=7616
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Mon 01 Nov, 2010 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Sean Flynt wrote: | | Already sold for 40k Euro. I'll post an update as soon as I've cleaned off all of that black junk (might need to get a few more 80 grit belts). |
No problem. Just use citri-strip! I used it on a del-tin and it worked wonders! Why allow a hew hundred years of crud to hide such a handsome blade!
I'd use a putty knife to take off the remaining grip- SNAP! No problemo!
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