Side Ring? -- myArmoury.com

Kasper Rind · Posted: Wed 03 May, 2006 6:28 am Post subject: Side Ring?

Im having trouble finding exampels of side ring (= the ring that goes across the cross, not the smaller one at the end of the arms) on swords before 1500. If any of you lot should have some,please let me know.

Kasper

Alex B. · Posted: Wed 03 May, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

1500 seems to be about when they became popular. Interested in them for any particular reason?

Kasper Rind · Posted: Thu 04 May, 2006 12:18 am Post subject:

Doing some research on the development of the sword and I came across Oakeshott who sets the date for side rings to as early as 1420-30 based on two illustrations from a bibel and a manuscript. I have not been able to find any swords with side rings that dates so early. must swords with siderings dates after 1500. Albrecht Dürer does not have any illustrtions of swords with side rings from before 1500. So I was just woundering.......

Wolfgang Armbruster · Posted: Thu 04 May, 2006 5:22 am Post subject:

The only weapon I've seen that had something like a sidering before 1500 was the Messer with it's Nagel (nail).
And you're right, no longswords depicted in Dürer-woodcuts show siderings or complex hilts (At least I'm not aware of any). Most of them look pretty much like Albion's upcoming Munich-sword with their segmented grips and s-curved crossguards.

Bill Grandy · myArmoury Team

I know they definately existed throughout the 15 c. because I've seen several examples... I just don't have an online picture to reference at the moment. Will get back to you if I find one...

Kasper Rind · Posted: Fri 05 May, 2006 12:42 am Post subject:

Thanks Bill! That would be nice.