Description
A very fine 15th/16th century renaissance period German hand and a half broad sword. fifty two inches overall length, the blade shows the stylised mark of the Passau wolf and on the other side a globe with extended bar and cross inlayed in brass. The hilt with longarm quillions terminating in round knobs. The is formed of two parrying rings linked between two vertical rings, wooden grip with pear shaped pommel terminated by a square rivet hammered button. The grip originally wooden, bound with cord and covered in leather. The use of the Doppelsoldner sword, a variant of the normal two-handed broad sword used in the late middle ages for foot duels between knights, under went a radical evolution during the renaissance. A heavy wide range weapon, devoted to massive cutting attacks, became the standard equipment of the most massive of infantry men and most skilled swordsmen, arranged in the front lines of the battle-array and with the duty of cutting through the forest of enemy pikes to allow there companions to pass through. Very large broad swords called Zweihander or two handed swords became very popular during the 15th and 16th centuries and were probably best known for their association with the famed Landsknechte or German mercenaries.
