Oakeshott Type XVII Sword Formerly of Oakeshott Collection

Mid-Late 14th Century

In fine excavated condition with blackened river finish overall, with sharply tapering double-edged blade of flattened hexagonal section with central fuller over half its length on both sides, each fuller with latten-filled orb and cross shaped mark at the forte and mid-section where the fuller ends, hilt comprising flat slightly arched quillons widening at the ends, flat tapering tang incised with a series of 'X' marks, and large compressed chamfered wheel pommel (incomplete on one side)

87.5 cm. blade, 111.8 cm. overall

Provenance: Ewart Oakeshott Collection
Exchanged with H. Russell Robinson for a Japanese full armour, London, March 1956

Literature:
Ewart Oakeshott, The Archaeology Of Weapons, 1960, p. 312, pl. 16
idem, Records Of The Medieval Sword, 1991, p. 160, XVII.2, illustrated
Hoffmeyer, cat. no. 52, pp. 35, 80 and 83, figs. 7 and 20

The quillons conform to Oakeshott's Style 6 with a pommel of Type H.1

Sold for £11,875 28 Nov 2012 11:00 GMT

For more information on Oakeshott Type XVII swords see this extract from Oakeshott's Records of the Medieval Sword: sword-site.com/thread/175/oakeshott-type-records-medieval-sword

Source: www.bonhams.com/auctions/19796/lot/76/