Longsword of Oakeshott Type XIIIb

Circa late 13th-early 14th century AD.

A hand-forged hand-and-a-half sword of Type XIIIa with facetted Type J wheel pommel, and round-section quillons; to the upper blade, a latten inlaid Arabic inscription 'Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah'; the blade narrow with shallow fuller for about one third of its length. Iron, 1.65 kg, 1.16 m. Extremely fine condition, stabilised.

Provenance

Property of a Suffolk Gentleman; by inheritance.

Literature

Cf. Oakeshott, E. Records of the Mediaeval Sword, p.105 (type), p.113 (inlaid text),

Footnotes

Inscribed and inlaid texts in Arabic script are found on medieval European swords which were deposited in the 'Hall of Victories' in Alexandria.

Date

Friday 2nd December 2011 Medieval and Later Antiquities; including Islamic, Christian and Arms And Armour Sections

For more information on Oakeshott's Type XIIIa see this extract of Records of the Medieval Sword: sword-site.com/thread/152/oakeshott-xiiib-records-medieval-sword

Source: www.timelineauctions.com/lot/hand-and-a-half-sword/5225/