Sword

Dateabout 1470–1480

Mediumsteel and iron

Dimensions3 × 102 × 15.5 cm (1 3/16 × 40 3/16 × 6 1/8 in.), 2 lb (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsBoth faces of the blade have a series of letters who meaning or purpose are unknown: "HEDECS" (obverse), "ADICCA" (reverse). At base of each mark is group of two concentric circles with centered undulating line. See photos in digital file. The circle marks should be compared to those on European (perhaps Italian) 14th c. broadswords taken as booty, and now in Ankara (see Alexander in ?Wukk), and others of the Alexandria group.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.95

DescriptionDouble-edged steel blade of flattened hexagonal section over its length, tapering only slightly from the rectangular-section ricasso to the spatulate, pointed tip. The blade must have been in extremely corroded condition, as it has been ground down, yet retains deep pitting over its length.The shoulders of the blade are apparently flat, and the tang of rectangular section tapers slightly to the pommel, through which it projects at the top and is hammered flat. The blade has been broken and repaired about 1/3 of the way down from the tip.

The single-handed, iron hilt, which was blackened later, is Norman’s type 40, with an inner guard of type 1, and a pommel of type 12. The hilt consists of a quillon-block with low cusped écusson, decorated with deeply cut lines, and a rear crossguard that is straight for about one-half its length, then curves down toward the point. The guard is of octagonal section, and ends in a discoid cockleshell base, filed in a shell-like manner, with a pair of circular holes at the base. The forward guard is bent up toward the pommel at a right angle to form a knuckle-guard, and terminates at a point level with the base of the pommel. The terminal of the forward guard is like that of the rear guard.

There is also a set of arms of the hilt, at the end of which is welded a side-ring of U-shape. The only inner-guard provision is a short right-angled downward projection at the ends of the ring.

The thick, discoid pommel is en suite with the terminals of the guards. It is rather lenticular in section, and has slightly convex faces. The very base at the lost grip is cut to form a rectangular section and a straight-cut bottom. The file-cuts are placed in three groups of five each radiating from the base.
Label TextThis sword shows an intermediate stage between the cross-hilt of medieval swords and the elaborate swept hilts of the late 1500s. It is designed to protect an unarmored hand. The forward end of the crossbar has been bent down to guard the knuckles. Since unarmored swordsmen liked to slip their forefinger over the crossguard for better blade control, this sword also has extra loops at the base of the blade to protect it. The graceful design is enhanced by terminals suggestive of seashells—a suitably Mediterranean touch.ProvenanceWm. H. Riggs gift to Metropolitan Museum of Art (14.25.1095; neg # 23754) in 1913 purchased by the Museum on November 15, 1956 from Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc. (NYC), sale # 1708, part of lot #132. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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