14th century AD. An iron longsword of Oakeshott's Type XV.A with tapering, pointed blade of flattened diamond section, the edges with battle nicks; the style 4 cross with downturned tips, long grip with slight taper; style K disc pommel with chamfered edges. See Oakeshott, R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960; Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge,1964 (1994); Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001 (2007); many specimens recall our sword: one of the most striking examples is in the Wallace Collection, London (Oakeshott, 2001 (2007) p.102); another extremely similar sword is published by Oakeshott (2001 (2007) p.114, fig.96); these swords are of exactly the same type as that visible on the monument of Can Grande Della Scala in Verona and that on the Berkeley effigy at Bristol (Oakeshott, 1960, pp.308-309 and pl.12); other similar specimens are from a group in the collection of the late Sir James Mann, found in Northern France, another in Yorkshire (Victoria & Albert Museum), and yet another, probably from Italy, has an Arabic inscription; varying a little in size, otherwise almost identical (Oakeshott,1964 (1994) p.59"). 779 grams, 87cm (34 1/4"). Property of a London gallery; previously with a London private collector from 2007; formerly in the Peter Ing Till collection, Vienna, Austria, since 1990; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. The sword belongs to the category XVa of Oakeshott (1991, pp.127 ff.), which seems to first have appeared in the second half of the 13th century. These swords were of the well-known 'Bastard' or 'hand-and-a-half' type. The general outline or silhouette of this type is much like that of the previous type XIV, but the section of the blade is different, as in the prime function of the sword. The type XV allowed the warrior to deliver a lethal thrust, even when the opponents protection was completely made of metal plate, whereas the blade XVa type was generally narrow and slender. Condition Report Fair condition.