Ewart Oakeshott Sword in Hand A Brief Survey of the Knightly SwordSword in Hand A Brief Survey of the Knightly Sword by Ewart Oakeshott ‘with illustrations by the authorChapter 1 Medieval Swords (fall the weapons devised by man in the long lapse ofthe centuries, the sword is the ‘only one which combines effectiveness in defense with force in attack; and since its beginnings inthe Bronze Age, it has gathered around itself mystique which ses it apart from any other auviict. Though its practical efficiency did not reach its peak until the development of the Smallsword in 17th century France, its rich and mystical symbolism came to a full flowering in the late 11th century, at the beginning of the Age of Chivalry "The medieval European sword is not at present accorded the regard and attention it ‘deserves. For some reason it has been neglected, which is strange considering its historical inmerest, its romantic appeal, and its great if austere beauty. Medieval swords ae certainly rare inthe saleroom, often in poor condition, and very costly. Ar the present time, however, there fare more of them available than ever before for study and for purchase. Many are in fine condi tion, and there are undoubtedly many more stil lying buried in the earth or in the beds of | We have to consider, 100, that the few hundreds of medieval swords which survived and are known today to the all-powerful experts represent only a minute percentage of the hundreds Of thousands of swords which were made and used during the ten medieval centuries (A.D. 500 = 1500). When faced with something such as a sword's cross of unusual form, these experts tend to assert that it must be a fake because none other lke it exists. What they mean is that they know of no other like it; therefore, ipso facto, it must be a modern forgery. ‘This i a dan- igcrously misleading attitude, which takes no account of realities. Such an assertion could be ‘made honesty ifthe expert in question had seen and examined every sword which was ever ‘made during those ten centuries. Actually, i is probable that the modern faker, with al his bril liant skill and knowledge, does not launch out on his own to design unusual forms of hilt or anything else, He wil play safe and make sure his forgery has a good, sound, well-known gen: tine prototype. T have spent a lifetime studying this most noble of weapons and have tied ro promote interest and love of it commensurate with its importance. I hope now to present again here a survey of ts physical development from the 6th century to the end of the 15th century, in the light of much new and exciting evidence which has recently emerged. I shall try also 0 set the “sword firmly into its historical and social context, to show how it was made and how it was used and what it meant to its owner, Underlying the archaeological evidence that I shall present will be the abstract concepts which the sword embodies-valour, loyalty and honous. Ever since the Bronze Age (¢.2000 B.C.}, the sword has been a symbol of power. Possession of such a rare and costly thing conferred upon an individual a dominance compara bie to that which nuclear capability now gives to a state. It is small wonder that those who had swords considered them to be magical. Magical also was the craft by which they were made. Bronze-working three thousand years ago was a mystery even to those who practiced it, and down the ages, sword-smithing remained something outside the ken of ordinary folk, 2 mystery to be guarded jealously and practiced in secret. Smiths were held in great awe, regarded as ‘magicians and demi-gods, and protected by powerful tabus._Very detailed descriptions of blade-making in Japan (mich oF tin English) have been published. ‘The methods of the Japanese smiths were basicaly the same as those used in Europe, and in these widely separated