GERMAN GOTHIC SHORT SWORD C.1450

Forged iron, 12 1/4‰۝ total length. Thick wedge section blade as found on ballock daggers. Made to penetrate the thick leather doublets worn at the time for protection from attack. Flattened tang, pierced for securing scale grips, probably antler or bone. Made without a guard as was prohibited for peasants, but with the rudimentary scroll side lug which served that purpose. Stable rust growth with minor flaking and very minimal losses. Excavated and professionally preserved. These swords were carried by peasants who were otherwise forbidden to carry weapons. They were justified as agricultural tools, but their use as weapons is verified by the fact that they lack the repeated sharpening and reshaping of the blades which results from agricultural use. A true German Gothic sword.