Swept-Hilt Sword for the Munich Town Guard

Dateabout 1600

Mediumsteel with bluing, wood

Dimensions101.9 × 85.1 × 4.5 × 18 cm (40 1/8 × 33 1/2 × 1 3/4 × 7 1/16 in.), 3 lb, 3 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsBoth faces of the ricasso bear the mark of Stäntler (crowned ST), and on the inner face, adjoining the Stäntler mark, is the the crown and ZH of the Munich Zeughaus; see digital file. The Zeughaus mark is cleaner and probably much later.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.52

DescriptionRobust blade of flattened diamond section, with visible seams at steel-iron joins. Blade is very broad at hilt, tapering straight to the acute point. The blade steps a bit inward at its base to become a robust ricasso of rectangular section, roughly rectangular in shape, but with a slight taper toward the grip.

Swept hilt with original blueing. Crossguard and arms of the hilt of roughly lenticular section. At the centerline of the blade the crossguard swells on both sides and extends onto the ricasso in a small cusp, forming the quillon block. The rear quillon turns up and slightly outward (probably for better defense), while the forward quillon turns downward to form a knuckleguard. Both quillons end in flat, disclike terminals.

At the tip of each arm of the hilt is a small rectangular block that nestles into the step between the ricasso and blade. This block serves as an anchor point for the outer and inner guards.

Outer guards of roughly lenticular section, flattened on interior surfaces, consisting of a side-ring with a loop below, the ring anchored to the rectangular blocks, the loop to the arms. At the midpoint of the loop a loop-guard branches off to join the knucklebow at its midpoint.

The inner guards are of roughly circular cross-section, beginning as one bar at the midpoint of the knuckleguard, then branching into three bars at the centerline of the blade, two ending at the anchor blocks on the arms of the hilt, the third joining the rear arm at its tip.

The pommel is of flattened barrel shape, narrower toward the button, the flattening creating a medial ridge on each side in line with the edges of the blade. The button of the pommel was formerly round, but its end has been flattened by reassembly--the sword has clearly been disassembled at least once.

Restored grip, wrapped in wire, with Turks heads.

There are possible traces of lampblack or paint on the hilt.
Label TextDuring the late Middle Ages, swordsmen developed the trick of slipping their index finger over the crossbar to give them better control over the blade. Since this exposed the finger to injury, swordsmiths began to add protective loops where the crossbar meets the blade. After 1500, additional protective bars were added, ultimately producing the sculptural lines of the fully developed swept hilt. The swept hilt on this sword is typical for the civilian sword known as a rapier, but the broad blade is more characteristic of a military sword, making it a crossbreed style between the two. This was well suited to the needs of a town guard, whose duties ranged from breaking up street fights to defending the city walls in time of war. ProvenancePurchased from Ian Eaves (London, England) on January 20, 2005. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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