Massive Mortuary -- myArmoury.com

William Goodwin · Posted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 5:29 am Post subject: Massive Mortuary

Stephen Fisher graciously sent me some photos (from Garth Vincent Antiques )of Mortuary's last eve. This particular one is the
largest I've come across. Measuring in at 55" overall length with a blade of 41", this thing is massive
compared to most Mortuary's found.

Bill

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 8:47 am Post subject:

Nice pics, Bill,
Do you think this would have been a cavalry mortuary,
Also is that a typical blade profile for one of these,
or could it be a cavalry sword rehilted,

William Goodwin · Posted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 10:09 am Post subject:

'ello Lee.

With a closer look and more sleep. something is a bit not quite right with the measurments.
If the blade itself is 41" and the overall length 55", then that would put the hilt & grip WAY out of proportion.
Sombody's mucked up the numbers in some fashion.

Even if the overall and blade measurements were in line, this length would have been too much for a cavalry sword of the time period.

Bill

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 12:02 pm Post subject:

Cheers Bill,
I can see the blade could be that length, a one off or,,,,,,,,,,,
Although now you point it out the overall definately sounds somewhat wrong, hmm should've noticed really, Eek!

ala two hand morty Wink

Let us know if any other info arrives,
Cheers.

E.B. Erickson · Industry Professional

Hi Bill,
I think you're right: someone's goofed on the numbers. When I read your email that said the sword overall was 55", I was expecting to see a seemingly small hilt in comparison to the blade. When I looked at the photo, my first thought was "decent and normal proportions." My second thought waqs: "Holy Mackeral, how big must that hilt be??!!"

It's an outside possibility that this was made for someone with Goliath's stature, and I have seen some very large swords for some apparently large individuals - most notably an 1803 that had a blade about 3" wide, and a gigantic hilt, but everything was in proportion and looked like a normal 1803 Infantry officer's sword (until someone picked it up!).

So while the numbers on the Mort may be right, I'm betting that they aren't. Email Garth and find out.

--ElJay

William Goodwin · Posted: Wed 10 Nov, 2004 3:36 am Post subject:

ElJay,

Thanks for your insight on the matter. I have e-mailed Mr. Vincent to confirm the numbers, awaiting response.

Lee,
a two-handed Mort. Eek!

Hey, now there's an idea....ooo...... the possiblitys... Cool

Cheers,
Bill

William Goodwin · Posted: Sat 04 Dec, 2004 10:58 am Post subject:

Well, finally got an e-mail back from G. Vincent confirming the measurements of this Mortuary.

So if measurements given are correct ,according to Mr. Vincent, this thing must be the first two-handed Mrotuary ever.....

Bill

Adam Lloyd · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject:

Now we're talking about something i can relate to! I love these hillted weapons they're excellent. question: What is the decoration on the hilt? Is that engraved, etched, "incised", "carved" what? How did they create that? I also always wondered what that little protruding thing is that goes from the hilt cup down and pushing against the blade is.

Geoff Wood · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 2:03 pm Post subject:

William Goodwin · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject:

Adam,

The decorations on most mortuary hilts are engraved/incised and protruding lips are called "langets" which, to my understanding, help to stablize the blade and act as a way of securing the blade into the mouth of the scabbard.

Geoff,
According to the messege from Mr. Vincent, both orig. measurements are correct, which like I said, would make this particular Mortuary very unique and very large.

Just wish I had that kind of money to purchase such an item........

Bill

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 3:55 pm Post subject:

Bill,
I wish you had the funds too chap,
comparison pics and your opinions would be more good reading,
Even allowing massive fittings,at those specs i'd still have both hands gripping and plenty of room to spare,There must be some interesting history behind this,
some form of figurehead piece, a giant of an owner, or simply someone decided to make/commision it,
Mortuary greatsword, Confused

Thanks for confirming the figures,

William Goodwin · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject:

Lee, mate...

as far as comparision specs. check out the review on my Armour Class Mortuary found in the reviews
section of this site (you probably already have).
www.myArmoury.com/review_ac_mort.html
I'm thinking that Eljay may be right with his notion of this being a specially commisioned piece for someone of large stature. Still... a two-handed basket? (or half basket really), man, just to handle this would be a great chore and a great thrill all in the same moment.....a real Mortuary Monster...."it's alive,,,it's alive....".......

Bill

David R. Glier · Posted: Sun 05 Dec, 2004 7:56 pm Post subject:

Well, I know of at least one giant (10' tall) who served in the Union cavalry, and he had a perfectly proportioned sword made by the Tiffany company. As I recall, his "regulation" sabre was over five feet long! (Since he was cavlary, one has to wonder where on earth he found a horse tall and strong enough to he ride on! Eek!

)

This particular sword seems proportioned for a swordsman somewhat shy of eight feet tall.

William Goodwin · Posted: Mon 06 Dec, 2004 4:13 am Post subject:

These measurments still puzzle me. If the blade is truly 41" long and the overall lenght is 55"..that would put the grip from pommel to guard at 14" which still seems too far fetched. That would be equivilant to having a basket mounted on my son's P-C Dark Sentinel...strange indeed...

Bill

Thomas McDonald · myArmoury Alumni

That is some gripping area .... if true !

My hand measures, round about, 4" across and I find a 3 3/4" grip perfect within a basket !
Now even if you doubled my hand size, to 8" across, (Mac the Giant) the grip still should only be about 7 1/2" !
Say the pommel takes up, I dunno .... 3 more inches, that still leaves a good 3 1/2" of extra handle ?

So if we use the Giant man senairo the guy would have to have hands that measure somewhere in the neighborhood of 11" inches to even remotely have this hilt fit 'em ! ( my math stinks so feel free to correct me here ;-)

Mac

R. Laine · Posted: Mon 06 Dec, 2004 6:08 am Post subject:

I too doubt the measurements are correct. I copied the picture to Paint Shop Pro and played with the dimensions a bit: The blade is roughly 5,9 times longer than the hilt, so if we assumed the blade is 41 inches long, we would get a 7-inch hilt (pommel included). Quite long, but within possiblity. Still, nowhere near the 14 inches the original measurements would lead us to believe - indeed, the hilt would have to be about one third of the blade's length for them to be true!

Rabbe

William Goodwin · Posted: Mon 06 Dec, 2004 6:55 am Post subject:

Thomas McDonald · myArmoury Alumni

Just for the whatevers .....

The following are some size stats on Andre the Giant !
http://www.angelfire.com/al/andrethegiant/bio.html

Height: 7'5"
Weight: 520 pounds
Chest: 71"
Calves: 22"
Thighs: 36"
Wrist: 11"
Hand: 16"
Biceps: 21"
Forearms: 17"
Neck: 24"
Shoesize: 24
* Exact Measurments at time of Wrestlemania III. (Taken from rereleased video of Wrestlemaina III)

He certainly could fill this grip , (my hand measures about 7 1/4" in length) Mac

William Goodwin · Posted: Mon 06 Dec, 2004 8:07 am Post subject:

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Mon 06 Dec, 2004 8:27 am Post subject:

I did the tape measure check before i posted last night too,
Not that at those lengths the tape would even stay straight Eek!

Yes Bill i enjoyed your review a day or two after you posted, Cool

Cool stats Mac,
I'm guessing plenty of giants down through the ages,
David,
I think that big guy would have struggled with anything short of a baby elephant,
cant imagine even a giant horse leaving enough clearance to allow this chap to be involved in any form of charge,
LOL,he may just thro the horse on his shoulder and run at them, SCary.

A giant of a man at 8",yes i'd take that as viable,more so with some of the tricks nature can play,