Austrian Infantry Sword and Scabbard, ca. 1580

Description

Iron hilt formed of flat bars, comprising double down-turned quillons with scroll finials; single side ring with central indentation; knuckle guard with scroll quillon; flattened pommel with hole and button. The grip wrapped with alternating twisted copper and iron wire with copper Turks heads top and bottom. Double-edged 28” blade of lens section with a maker’s mark and two stylized crosses with “MARIA” and a gallows on one side, and “IESUS” and a wheel with cross on either side on the other. Blade with deliberately blunted tip, as found on executioner swords. Ultra rare original leather-covered wood scabbard fitted for side knives or sharpening tools (absent) with incised decoration and iron drag. While these swords were known to have been carried by Landsknecht infantry and are lighter than typical executioner swords, a nearly identical sword with similar criminal justice symbols, considered to be an executioner’s sword, is on display at the Kriminalmuseum in Rothenburg odT., Germany (see photo). Very good condition with light pitting on the sharp blade; scabbard very good with minimal crackling and no leather loss. Overall length 34 1/8” (86.7 cm), not including scabbard.