Medieval Iron Blade

Comprising: a dagger quillon guard dated 15th-16th century A.D. with X-motifs and accompanied by a Portable Antiquities Scheme record; a partial chape with openwork heart motif; lobed and domed pommel; section of chainmail; four pommels for knives or other utensils, including examples with simple ornamentation. 135 grams total, 12-60 mm



Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-A95853 for the 15th century quillon guard.

With a broad tapering blade, the wide and shallow fullers with inlaid decoration to both sides comprising a Greek cross within a circle, a cross potent and a wheel; long, straight guard and a short grip with a plain Brazil nut pommel. 1.31 kg, 101 cm



Ing Peter Till collection, Austria 1990s. UK collection, 2000s. Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The sword is of Oakeshott Type Xa or XI and Petersen Type X. According to Oakeshott (1960, p.204) the swords of type X were a development of Viking sword type VIII with slight modifications. Oakeshott describes such swords as common in the late Viking age (late 10th century) and remaining in use until the first quarter of the 13th century.

With central socket and shaft; cutting blade set vertically at a right-angle; the short pick-adze blade arranged horizontally. 1.3 kg, 26 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

The earliest axe-adzes from the 3rd millennium B.C. were weapons and tools furnished with socket holes. Usually a socket was a more secure way of attaching the object to a wooden haft than having a tang. These weapons developed into a plethora of different forms in the 2nd millennium B.C., and the numerous new forms and were used until at least 800 B.C.