Hi,

I'm researching the Type XIV sword currently in the collection of the Higgins Armoury Museum.

That would be this sword:

[ Linked Image ]

Does anyone have any images or info about it as I haven't been able to find much so far?

Cheers,

Dave.

Hi David. I've had the pleasure of seeing this sword (behind glass) many times on my visits to the museum. I can't tell you a whole lot off the top of my head other than the fact that it's absolutely beautiful. I believe it's late 14th Century, although I'm not 100% sure. I do plan on making a trip to the museum in the very near future, so I'd be more than happy to snap some photos and get some more information for you. It'll give me an excuse to utilize my membership privileges and spend some time in the library. :) Also, have you considered contacting the curator for info? You could probably get in touch with him via the website. The whole museum staff is very friendly and always willing to help in that regard. Might be worth while.

Cheers,

- JM

Dave - I have a photo of it from a visit last summer. The small card next to the sword says:

Sword, 1270-1350
Europe, perhaps France or Italy
Steel
Weight: 2 lbs, 13 oz.
Higgins Armory Museum (2428)

Another photo:
[ Linked Image ]

Guys,

Sorry its taken me a while to post a response.

Thanks for the information and the photo! :D

I think this is the correct sword - it's not a great shot but I here it is anyway

http://imgur.com/rGth3

Hi Dave,

A sword with an almost identical blade to the Higgins piece is in the Royal Armouries in the UK (Inv. No. IX-1107). Although the crossguard and pommel of the latter are completely different (and quite unusual with only three or four examples known to me), the silhouette of the blade conforms almost exactly to that of the Higgins sword. I don't have a photo of it to hand, but it can be seen in Oakeshott's "Records of the Medieval Sword", p.117, No. XIV.2. The geometry of the fuller may be slightly different (as regards depth and sectional curvature etc.), but it appears close enough in the photos.

Basic measurements of the one in the Royal Armouries are:
Length overall: 91.4cm (36").
Blade length: 72.1cm (28.4").
Weight: 1,200g (2lbs 11oz).

Both of these pieces are quite distinctive among the broad corpus of Type XIV swords as their blades resemble a kind of isosceles triangle with quite straight edges and are very broad at the hilt. This is a handy configuration for an effective cut-and-thrust weapon and my guess is that they would have been a pleasure to handle.