Saxon Arms

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by werecow

Have you checked Forrer's "European Sword Pommels"? I'm not sure if there are any Saxon ones in there, but it's got pommels up the wazoo.

Theres a book just on sword pommels?
As pommels were often acquired by cutlers and armorers who assembled swords from individual vendors it seems like it would be hard to distinguish specific origin. Also swords being refurbished often ended up with pommels from other sources. I have had for example British pattern military swords with pommels that may have been much earlier than the type they were now on.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Theres a book just on sword pommels?

Indeed. And just the European ones, too! Might be the most niche book I own. "Book" may give the wrong impression, though. It's basically a large collections of images of pommels and a few swords, with some notes for each plate. Back cover says there's 680 "swords and sword pommels" described and depicted. I bought it mainly to get better acquainted with renaissance pommels.

[Jim McDougall]

I think I found which reference you mean. I was going through Norman (1980) looking through the pommels chapter for anything described as Saxon, as well as indexes but found nothing with that specific designation.
I found the book "Die Schwerter und Schwertknaufe der Sammlung Carl van Schwerzbac-Bregenz" by Dr. R.Forrers, Leipzig, 1905.

E. Oakeshott "The Sword in the Age of Chivalry" (1964) is also mentioned in which the various types of sword pommels he lists in his alphabetically categorized typology of them is pretty thoroughly represented. I found no mention however of any specified as Saxon.

It seems I have seen the term Saxon used on occasion on examples in auctions etc. but cannot recall specifics. I have seen the term often used for military swords of the state of Saxony origins. Searching online mostly the term is used for numerous reproduction models from well known producers.
Looking forward to examples of swords of antiquity described as Saxon from references. We never stop learning

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I think I found which reference you mean. I was going through Norman (1980) looking through the pommels chapter for anything described as Saxon, as well as indexes but found nothing with that specific designation.
I found the book "Die Schwerter und Schwertknaufe der Sammlung Carl van Schwerzbac-Bregenz" by Dr. R.Forrers, Leipzig, 1905.

Yeah, European Sword Pommels is the English translation it seems:

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by werecow

Yeah, European Sword Pommels is the English translation it seems:

Thank you so much for the heads up on this book! Looks pretty essential for sword study that would greatly accompany these others. Sounds like it would be valuable for Merenti in his research as well.



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