Iron hilt with guard of round-section and quillons ending in a large circle in the horizontal plane. Pommel of tapered barrel shape with button. Wood grip with original twisted iron and silver wire, loose and partially missing, finished with turks heads top and bottom. Broad double-edged 31" blade of lens-section with blunt end; etched on both sides with a full-length armoured warrior holding a sword of scimitar form above Germanic inscriptions, one bearing a possible date (16?)82; the top and bottom of the panels being framed by an ornate foliate decoration. High quality etching and definitely of the period. The figures show a Turkish influence, indicating the sword was probably made and used in the southeastern Germanic areas which had contact with the Ottoman Empire. Blade shows wear and pitting, with evidence of frequent sharpening and multiple edge nicks. Etching rubbed and inscriptions partially illegible. Most German style executioner’s swords on the market are copies which never saw use. This one is undoubtedly genuine and dates no later than the end of the 17^th C. Sobering to think that the last time this sword saw use was probably to sever a human head.

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