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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 8:41 am    Post subject: Another trip to the Higgins         Reply with quote

A fellow forumite (Jeremy Krause) and I managed to get to the Higgins Museum yesterday, despite the heavy snow, the cold, and the fact that I should have been at work. The museum was closed for regular visitors but since we had an appointment with the curator to view few pieces they let us in.

We got to handle three swords (hopefully there will be an article about that soon), we got to look round in the store room, and we got to walk in the museum alone. They opened up the museum just for us and let us walk and take pictures freely, with no others around........Boy, did I feel special.........

Here are few teasers.

Alexi

** Photographs taken by Alexi Goranov and reproduced by permission of The Higgins Armory Museum



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The swords we got to handle

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Jeremy in the Strore Room with HAM 3846

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Me with HAM #.75

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A type XIV sword dated 1270-1350
Used to be made by MRL


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Persian leg defence (16c)

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A beautiful 15c pole axe
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Jeremy V. Krause




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 9:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Yes, I really enjoyed the visit and found it so enlightening!

To be able to handle these swords and to be able to touch and closely examine many of the weapons in the storeroom was just great. We were left alone in the storeroom so that we could really take our time. The greatest variety of axes, spears, lances, and pole arms could be seen.

Jeremy
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Joel Chesser




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 9:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thats awsome, i hope you guys had fun, can't imagine you not having fun though. So how does one do that? get an appointment to get in i mean. There was a sword at a museum in town i wanted to get an appointment to see, but i was unsure how to dgo about it.
i can't wait to see what you write up about the adventure

..." The person who dosen't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one."

- Luke 22:36
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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 9:46 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Joel Chesser wrote:
Thats awsome, i hope you guys had fun, can't imagine you not having fun though. So how does one do that? get an appointment to get in i mean. There was a sword at a museum in town i wanted to get an appointment to see, but i was unsure how to dgo about it.


I approached the curator, explaining that I am interested in seeing/studying/measuring swords that belong to a certain period of interest. The curator gave me a complete list of items that fit my criteria. I requested more info on few of these including condition and whether they were available for viewing/handling. The list shrunk a bit since some of the pieces are in very bad shape.

Then I simply made an appointment to see the better preserved pieces of interest. I tried to keep the list small since I wanted to give each piece the time it deserved. The Higgins staff was amazingly forthcoming and helpful. The key word was "research". The museum is really trying to foster research and education. Next time I do this, I have a much better idea of what to request (having seen the store room) Laughing Out Loud

Alexi
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Joel Whitmore




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 10:22 am    Post subject: Question         Reply with quote

Nice photos guys and I am sure it was nice to document and handle the swords. I do have a question as the sword pictured in photos 1 and 2 with the wide blade and large tang. Is this a bare historical blade or a reconstruction of a blade? That tang is HUGE! Eek! Do you have any info on that one?

Joel
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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 10:40 am    Post subject: Re: Question         Reply with quote

Joel Whitmore wrote:
Nice photos guys and I am sure it was nice to document and handle the swords. I do have a question as the sword pictured in photos 1 and 2 with the wide blade and large tang. Is this a bare historical blade or a reconstruction of a blade? That tang is HUGE! Eek! Do you have any info on that one?

Joel


I have plenty of info , for a plenty of a sword Laughing Out Loud This is "bearing sword". It apparently used to have hilt components, but something happened to them Question Apparently when the museum purchased it, it had the hilt components.......Y'd think that the fact that it is in a museum, would mean that the sword will be preserved......The sword is huge. It is dated to 14-15c . It is ~89in in length of which 66 are the blade. It is more than 8lb in weight.

Alexi

** Photographs taken by Alexi Goranov and reproduced by permission of The Higgins Armory Museum



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Close-up of the hilt
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Sean Flynt




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 11:42 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Eek!

Oh, that HAM 3846!
Three questions, if you don't mind spilling a few more beans on that one:

• Date?
• Culture?
• Leather-wrapped grip?

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 12:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sean Flynt wrote:
Eek!

Oh, that HAM 3846!
Three questions, if you don't mind spilling a few more beans on that one:

• Date?
• Culture?
• Leather-wrapped grip?


The hilt is dated 1560-1570
Blade probably German. I am waiting on the curator to tell me why he thinks so. There is a maker's mark whis I guess makes the case.
Wire-wrapped grip

Alexi
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Sean Flynt




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 12:46 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Looks like the wire wrap is just plain, straight wire. No twists or multiple strands, but possibly with turk's heads top and bottom. Is that correct?

The #75 grip is interesting, too. I've been wondering how late we'd see leather over cord and wood a-la Albion grips, and that sword looks to be 16th century as well.

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 1:59 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sean Flynt wrote:
Looks like the wire wrap is just plain, straight wire. No twists or multiple strands, but possibly with turk's heads top and bottom. Is that correct?

The #75 grip is interesting, too. I've been wondering how late we'd see leather over cord and wood a-la Albion grips, and that sword looks to be 16th century as well.


Here is a close up of the wire-wrapped hilt.

The #.75 sword is dated to 15c, but it has been re-hilted. I do not know when. The pommel is also dated to 15c.
I have to say that the grip was not very well done, at lest the spiral cord under the leather.
Alexi

** Photographs taken by Alexi Goranov and reproduced by permission of The Higgins Armory Museum



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Sean Flynt




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 2:23 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Ah...now I see a bit of a twist in that wire. And a leather cover for the ricasso! Very interesting....Gives me ideas.

That #75 is an odd-looking duck.

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Gordon Frye




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 5:45 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Alexi;

I have to agree with Sean that HAM 3846 is a REALLY nifty weapon! An excellent example of a Renaissance War Sword, encorporating some of the aspects of the Rapier but keeping a BIG blade to go with it! And plenty of room for a gauntleted hand to get around that grip without banging into hilt parts! I would love to see more details on that one, such as length, weight, etc. VERY nifty sword.

When is Albion gonna make one of THOSE babies, anyway??? I'll get in line now... Big Grin

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
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Sean Flynt




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 6:03 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I love these! Here's a similar example from Graz. Sorry for the scan quality.

Stats:
1580-1620
Made in Passau, Germany
Iron, wood, leather
130.5 x 34.2 x 19.2

Betcha the HAM example once had a blackened hilt, too.



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-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Gordon Frye




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 6:16 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sean;

That one will do just fine too! Albion, oh Albion, where for art thou, Albion? Ditto, Gus Trim... I want one of these big 16th Century War Swords! Some of us fellows who are into the Renaissance aren't particularly infatuated with the skinny little rapier blades, and want real ones... please?

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
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Sean Flynt




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 6:23 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

MRL German Rapier hilt + Angus Trim c&t blade=German horseman's sword ca. 30 years war. You could pick up a ball pommel from Alchem for under $10 to balance the heavier blade.
-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Gordon Frye




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 6:48 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sean, you take ALL the fun out of complaining about this sort of thing! Drat!

Actually, those are great suggestions, thanks!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
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Jeremy V. Krause




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 6:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello everyone,
Yes, the 3946 is a monster of a sword- a real chopping blade. Lots of blade presence but Alexi will provide the specifics.

As the rennaisance is not my primary interest at this time I was really suprised with the character and handling of this weapon. I was not aware of such large blades (kind of a XIIIb) mounted on complex hilted swords, very enlightening.

Some nice brass inlay in the blade as well- I'm a sucker for inlay. Happy
Jeremy
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 7:54 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gordon;

Do you see a family resemblance between that stout complex grip one hander with the German hand and a half that Albion has as a future next generation sword. Almost as if this sword is like a snub nose version of a hand and a half.

Just speculation but could this be a shortened hand and a half that was rehilted at some point ?

Anyway, it does make me look forward to seing how the Albion sword turns out, and it should be at the early limit of the period that interest you most. ( Maybe larger than what you would be looking for ! )

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Gordon Frye




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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 8:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jean;

Actually I had been thinking of that, of taking a hand-and-a-half and re-hilting it to fit later tastes. One of the problems that a lot of the present "War Swords" have is that they are pretty much all designed for use on foot ( which makes sense, since 95%-plus of the buying public is going to only use them on foot) so thus they are usually somewhat short for my wants, and the longer rapiers, while long enough to be serviceable on horseback, are too thin and light for the most part. Therefore something on the order of the hand-and-a-half would be of a decent length and breadth... but probably a tad hefty!

The problem is of course in length... when you are afoot, you really don't want the point going past your ankle, whereas when using a sword while mounted, you do want to be able to reach the ground without having to hang off the saddle like a Comanche, riding on the side of your horse. Thus a blade of at least 36" is mandatory, with the more the better, within reason. Plus, it needs to have a certain stiffness to it, i.e. "a good stiff tuck" as many an English cavalryman admonished his followers to carry.

I've actually been looking hard at the A&A Dresden Rapiers like Nathan's but I would really like to see a full review of it first (hint, hint!)


http://www.myArmoury.com/swor_aa_dres.html?1


But it seems to meet a lot of my requirements, as it is decently long (37" blade below the rings) and breadth, but of course it pays for that in weight (3.7 pounds). Not a real problem of course, but something to ponder.

Anyway, lots to dream on! But for the mean time, I'll just have to be content with my ATrim Baskethilt! If only it were a few inches longer...

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
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Alexi Goranov
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PostPosted: Thu 27 Jan, 2005 8:39 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jean Thibodeau wrote:


Just speculation but could this be a shortened hand and a half that was rehilted at some point ?



You guys are on to something. There is that idea that HAM 3846 was a larger blade that got modified to fit this hilt. My guess is that the front of the blade was remodeled. That is judging by the way the edges were done, and remnant grinding marks.

Alexi
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