Swords in Engravings: A Few Questions.
Oct 8, 2013 20:58:28 GMT
Post by Uhlan on Oct 8, 2013 20:58:28 GMT
Hi all.
I posted this topic in the Medieval section, but I think it might be better placed here, since we are dealing here with swords from around the 1500's.
I would like to start with the sword in this print.
It seems quite long and very slender in the blade and it has a long grip.
The lower part of the grip, nearest the guard, seems to be made of leather over wood and is very short. The upper part looks like iron to me, not wire over wood. Cannot say whether the upper iron part and pommel are of one piece.
Am I looking at a bastard sword with a two hand grip?
A precursor of the rapier with extra long grip?
Are grips like this realistic, or a fancy of the artist?
The Windlass 15th C. sword comes to mind, but that grip is much shorter.
I also like the way the sword is attached to the belt. Never seen anything like it in this timeframe, but I am no expert. I am making a mock-up of it, to find out how it should work.
The Second Print shows also a quite long, slender blade, though to my eyes not as slender as the one above. The upper part of the blade is quite broad and there is a ricasso too. Is this also a precursor of a rapier blade, a cut and thruster? I think we are talking ca 1520 here.
The third print shows Mars holding a sword with S guard and a rather stout blade, in my view a real cutter. What it has in common with the sword from print 1 is again the long and very slender grip, Looks like turned wood to me and that pommel must be artistic licence by the artist.That is no pommel, but a bowl of fruit!
The fourth print is an extra, some comic relief if you will, titled: Three Pagan Heroes. You know instantly you're looking at heroes here: What Plumes!
Also, the poor little elephant is clearly contemplating it's behaviour at last night's party. Auch! :mrgreen:
To see the images full size: click printer button on the top of the page.
Thank you.
Cheers, Ulahn.
Edit: I did some calculations on sword nr 1: I come at a blade length of 85cm or 33.46" and a hilt length of 28 cm or 11.02 say 11". Slightly rounded off, the total length would be 44.5".
I posted this topic in the Medieval section, but I think it might be better placed here, since we are dealing here with swords from around the 1500's.
I would like to start with the sword in this print.
It seems quite long and very slender in the blade and it has a long grip.
The lower part of the grip, nearest the guard, seems to be made of leather over wood and is very short. The upper part looks like iron to me, not wire over wood. Cannot say whether the upper iron part and pommel are of one piece.
Am I looking at a bastard sword with a two hand grip?
A precursor of the rapier with extra long grip?
Are grips like this realistic, or a fancy of the artist?
The Windlass 15th C. sword comes to mind, but that grip is much shorter.
I also like the way the sword is attached to the belt. Never seen anything like it in this timeframe, but I am no expert. I am making a mock-up of it, to find out how it should work.
The Second Print shows also a quite long, slender blade, though to my eyes not as slender as the one above. The upper part of the blade is quite broad and there is a ricasso too. Is this also a precursor of a rapier blade, a cut and thruster? I think we are talking ca 1520 here.
The third print shows Mars holding a sword with S guard and a rather stout blade, in my view a real cutter. What it has in common with the sword from print 1 is again the long and very slender grip, Looks like turned wood to me and that pommel must be artistic licence by the artist.That is no pommel, but a bowl of fruit!
The fourth print is an extra, some comic relief if you will, titled: Three Pagan Heroes. You know instantly you're looking at heroes here: What Plumes!
Also, the poor little elephant is clearly contemplating it's behaviour at last night's party. Auch! :mrgreen:
To see the images full size: click printer button on the top of the page.
Thank you.
Cheers, Ulahn.
Edit: I did some calculations on sword nr 1: I come at a blade length of 85cm or 33.46" and a hilt length of 28 cm or 11.02 say 11". Slightly rounded off, the total length would be 44.5".
