A Roman ring pommel sword, 1st half of the 3rd centuryExcellently preserved and conserved ring pommel sword. Wide double-edged blade (width 5.9 - 5.5 cm), tapering to an acute triangle in the front area. Small chipping on the edges in places, tip broken off, blade substance almost completely preserved. Clearly visible Damascus structure. Splitting of material in places in the rear area of the blade. Well preserved solid iron crossguard. The massive ring pommel is attached to the grip by means of the bent and riveted thin end piece of the tang. The exceptionally good state of conservation shows all construction features. Length 81 cm (blade 62.5 cm). Ring pommel swords were part of the Roman armament in the 1st half of the 3rd century. Cf. M. Biborski, Typologie und Chronologie der Ringknaufschwerter. In: Archäologisches Institut der Akademie der Wissenschaften der Tschechischen Republik (Hrsg.), Markomannenkriege. Ursache und Wirkungen (Brno 1994), pp. 85-97. In this outstanding preservation of museum quality!Provenance: South German private collection, acquired from the estate of a German collector.Condition: II -