03-21-2015, 06:56 AM
for me, this is a forgery. we discussed this on FB a year ago or so, but don`t find the thread any more.
reasons why I think it is a forgery:
the "hourglass"-shaped handle is typical of scandinavian swords of the 4th century, not 6th.
the construction of the crossbars is odd: normally this construction appears from 600 AD onwards, bot never with a copper-alloy center-bar. they are made of iron normally (with or without inlays)
the pommel-bar is much too short
the decorative rivets on the blade-sided crossbar are on the wrong side (they would obstruct the hand at this place); they are of a totally untypical form also, much too high
the pommel itself has no parallels in the 6th century. it looks a bit like early "viking" pommels, but much smaller and not of iron. it is not stuck on the tang and riveted, as much as I can see here, which is also untypical in that timeframe
to me, this looks like the tryout of a merovingian sword made by someone who doesn`t have the knowledge about dating and typology of sword fittings of that time
about 6th century scabbards: there is a very good preserved find of a carved wooden scabbard core from Basel / Switzerland, dating to about 500 AD, also many finds of fittings and partial scabbard remains throughout the whole merovingian time, but one has to be careful in combining finds because the fashions in decoration did change quickly
reasons why I think it is a forgery:
the "hourglass"-shaped handle is typical of scandinavian swords of the 4th century, not 6th.
the construction of the crossbars is odd: normally this construction appears from 600 AD onwards, bot never with a copper-alloy center-bar. they are made of iron normally (with or without inlays)
the pommel-bar is much too short
the decorative rivets on the blade-sided crossbar are on the wrong side (they would obstruct the hand at this place); they are of a totally untypical form also, much too high
the pommel itself has no parallels in the 6th century. it looks a bit like early "viking" pommels, but much smaller and not of iron. it is not stuck on the tang and riveted, as much as I can see here, which is also untypical in that timeframe
to me, this looks like the tryout of a merovingian sword made by someone who doesn`t have the knowledge about dating and typology of sword fittings of that time
about 6th century scabbards: there is a very good preserved find of a carved wooden scabbard core from Basel / Switzerland, dating to about 500 AD, also many finds of fittings and partial scabbard remains throughout the whole merovingian time, but one has to be careful in combining finds because the fashions in decoration did change quickly
Als Mensch zu dumm, als Schwein zu kleine Ohren...
Jürgen Graßler
www.schorsch-der-schmied.de
www.facebook.com/pages/AG-Historisches-Handwerk/203702642993872
Jürgen Graßler
www.schorsch-der-schmied.de
www.facebook.com/pages/AG-Historisches-Handwerk/203702642993872
