::  Henry V Sword ::

Henry V was King of England from the year 1413 until his death in 1422, at the ripe old age of 35. In his 35 years, though, he became one of England’s most important monarchs for several reasons, including his many victories in the Hundred Years War. Until his untimely death from dysentery, he was recognized as a powerful warrior and military leader – fighting from as young as 14, and leading an army at the age of 16.

The sword of Henry V was discovered in Westminster Abby after being lost for many years, and was praised by Ewart Oakeshott himself for being one of the most beautifully handling swords he had ever  been. Instead of being heavily decorative like one might expect of a King’s sword, it is an eminently practical design. The original boasts a distinctive hollow-ground blade, a type XVIII on Oakeshott’s typology. The classic wheel pommel and beautiful curved guard flow well into the blade’s wide base, which in turn tapers to a fine point. The sword was intended to be a solid balance between a cut and a thrust sword, and certainly fulfills its purpose well.

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The Norman Sword : Medieval Sword Galley I