Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Two-Handed Great Sword

Jim McDougall · 24th November 2012, 04:48 AM

Hi Dana,
This is a most interesting example of the two hand sword, and extremely attractive. It is not a 'Victorian' copy and the ceremonial term is broadly interpreted.This sword does seem to be quite well made with an apparant degree of age, and with the heraldic motifs as well as style it does seem quite possible to be a guards weapon most likely from Milan. As you have well noted the serpent is indeed the biscione (Milanese 'bissa')which is the heraldic emblem of the Visconti family. The cross in the shield is actually the coat of arms of Milan, and is known as the cross of St. Ambrose.

The two hander swords were of course used by German and Swiss landsknechts usually by the doppelsoldners, specialized swordsmen in the combat involving pikes and placed in front lines against these. After initial contact and as battle became closely engaged melee these huge swords were of little use, but were key in breaking through and destroying these deadly pikes. By the mid 16th century these were largely discontinued as combat weapons, but did become highly symbolic and visible in guard situations as well as in certain degree ceremonial.
The structure and elements of this sword seem well made enough for such purposes, and it does not appear to be a combat weapon. The flukes as noted are a bit unusual as they are a bit heavy, almost rudimentary in shape and are placed vestigially high on the blade near the ricasso and guard system, certainly not as on the earlier swords. Most of these seem to have typically had ring type guards rather than this basket type, and examples of the German and Swiss combat forms of 16th century seem to have had no ricasso on blade.

The pommel is faithfully represented, and appears to be of c. 1615-30 (AVB Norman, "Rapier and Smallsword" , 1980, p.257, #38) a truncated cone tapering toward tip with longitudinal flutes and prominant capstan. In examples of these two hand swords from Italy (Boccia & Coelho, 582-584) these are termed 'spadoni a due mani' and shown as c. 1600-10, with #583 having the same type pommel. The flukes on these are smaller and almost toothlike, while on others these are slightly larger but downward turned lunettes. The hilts are of similar form and some with the central rib bisecting the grip. These are quite finely made and not with the spiral wood grip, which suggests a later probably ceremonial guard type weapon.

I would say this, with these heraldic emblems and representations of features in the style of earlier weapons of these forms, it may be of 18th century or early 19th and from Milan. Certainly worthy of further and more detailed research, there are many possibilities given the complexity of geopolitical circumstances of these times and well into the 19th c. in Italy.

All best regards,
Jim

24th November 2012, 04:48 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Dana, This is a most interesting example of the two hand sword, and extremely attractive. It is not a 'Victorian' copy and the ceremonial term is broadly interpreted.This sword does seem to be quite well made with an apparant degree of age, and with the heraldic motifs as well as style it does seem quite possible to be a guards weapon most likely from Milan. As you have well noted the serpent is indeed the biscione (Milanese 'bissa')which is the heraldic emblem of the Visconti family. The cross in the shield is actually the coat of arms of Milan, and is known as the cross of St. Ambrose. The two hander swords were of course used by German and Swiss landsknechts usually by the doppelsoldners, specialized swordsmen in the combat involving pikes and placed in front lines against these. After initial contact and as battle became closely engaged melee these huge swords were of little use, but were key in breaking through and destroying these deadly pikes. By the mid 16th century these were largely discontinued as combat weapons, but did become highly symbolic and visible in guard situations as well as in certain degree ceremonial. The structure and elements of this sword seem well made enough for such purposes, and it does not appear to be a combat weapon. The flukes as noted are a bit unusual as they are a bit heavy, almost rudimentary in shape and are placed vestigially high on the blade near the ricasso and guard system, certainly not as on the earlier swords. Most of these seem to have typically had ring type guards rather than this basket type, and examples of the German and Swiss combat forms of 16th century seem to have had no ricasso on blade. The pommel is faithfully represented, and appears to be of c. 1615-30 (AVB Norman, "Rapier and Smallsword" , 1980, p.257, #38) a truncated cone tapering toward tip with longitudinal flutes and prominant capstan. In examples of these two hand swords from Italy (Boccia & Coelho, 582-584) these are termed 'spadoni a due mani' and shown as c. 1600-10, with #583 having the same type pommel. The flukes on these are smaller and almost toothlike, while on others these are slightly larger but downward turned lunettes. The hilts are of similar form and some with the central rib bisecting the grip. These are quite finely made and not with the spiral wood grip, which suggests a later probably ceremonial guard type weapon. I would say this, with these heraldic emblems and representations of features in the style of earlier weapons of these forms, it may be of 18th century or early 19th and from Milan. Certainly worthy of further and more detailed research, there are many possibilities given the complexity of geopolitical circumstances of these times and well into the 19th c. in Italy. All best regards, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 24th November 2012 at 05:01 AM.