Quote:
Originally Posted by Reventlov
If the Hospitallers were present until 1405, then the apparent dating (late 14th) of the sword allows for it to belonged to one of them, though being found nearby does not guarantee this.
I wonder if the label "crusader sword" at least partly stems from the "gold cross" on the blade - I think you can often find the term used casually in such cases. I suspect the marking is the same as the one which I take to be the shape of a sword or dagger. From what I can see, the proportions better match examples of the latter than actual cross markings, which are common and need not all be associated with crusaders.
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My translation might be a bit dodgy. Not sure there were special swords as standard issue to crusaders. I think the museum description meant more a sword likely to have been used by crusaders. Which is fair given that it was found in their organised centre. The Knight Hospitallers often came from the high nobility and can be expected to have been armed with high quality arms. Or as you say the sword might have belonged to a secular visitor to their centre. Who really knows.