[Tim Junge]

Hey guys,

I am currently trying to find out if there are any examples of swords with for example twisted crossguards like the Erbach sword (https://www.arms-n-armor.com/collections/longswords/products/schloss-erbach-sword) or some other 15th century german and bohemian swords (https://www.arms-n-armor.com/collections/longswords/products/bohemian-broadsword) which are dated more close to the 14th century.

Currently I'm under the impression that 13th and 14th century swords were kind of a step back in regards to fanciness of pommels and guards compared to migration period and merovingian swords.

Are there examples of heavy ornamented swords between 1100-1400?

Thanks in advance.

[J.D. Crawford]

High medieval swords tended to be more austere than their dark age predecessors or late medieval / renaissance swords.

An exception seems to be Spanish swords, perhaps due to the Islamic influence. Here are some examples:

http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.9327.html

http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.37526.html

Regarding swords with twisty crosses, I can't think of any early examples.

[Tim Junge]