[Matt Easton]

It's not as simple as that.

'Civilians' (which could of course be soldiers not on service), carried swords at various times since swords were invented. They didn't magically start carry swords at a certain date. Ironically, given the above post, it was illegal for civilians in English cities to carry swords or bucklers from the 13th century onwards. They could carry swords when outside cities or when entering or leaving, but they could not carry them within English cities unless they were knighted or one of the Mayor's aldermen (the equivalent of the police). This law was repeatedly issued through the 13th and 14th centuries and the last record I have of it being issued is in the first half of the 15th century. Probably partly due to the Wars of the Roses this law seems to have been slowly abandoned in the 15th century in England and by the 16th century it seems that sword-wearing was tolerated in English cities. However, note that fencing and wrestling contests continued to be held *outside* the city walls, even in the later 16th century.

England though is just one example. The laws in every country varied - France had similar laws to England, but in German and Italy it seems that weapon-carrying in cities was more tolerated in the 13th-15th century than it was in England or France.

In other words, there is no simple answer. Europe was just as diverse and with just as varying laws as it is now.

[Luka Borscak]

I edited my post so that I don't mislead people with false info...

[Ryan S.]

would you say then that most of the people carrying swords would either be soldiers off to war, or paramilitary police or body guards and therefore carrying them professionally, not for fashion?

[Neil Melville]

Hello Levente,
I am particularly interested in the two-handed swords from the Castillon hoard, and in fact have a replica of the one now in the Royal Armouries, Leeds. I know of the one in your photo at the beginning of this post, sold at Hermann Historica's auction in April 2006, but I did not know where it had gone. Your photo implies that it has been loaned to a museum by its new owners - could you tell me (and everyone else) what museum has it on display. Many thanks.
Neil

[Cornelis Tromp]

late 15thC 2-hand swords with recurved guards, Oakeshott type XVIIIb.
These swords were found in the literature and drawings from 1425 to about 1520, for example drawn by Albrecht Dürer and Martin Schoengrauer, see drawing Schoengrauer from 1475.
Historical examples of this type of sword are Wallace A467, nr 11829 Cluny, and the famous sword from the Bavarian National Museum, Munich (XVIIIa.5 ROMs).
Also some pictures from a true fighting sword , ex Gottlob Herbert Bidermann collection.
to high probability a water discovery with the original handle intact.

The sword length is 124cm, blade 97.5cm/3.5cm/1cm.,pommel 5.9cm, grip-l 19cm, cross-w 21.5cm, weight 1392gr.

best,

[Konstantin Tsvetkov]

[Mark T]

[Matt Easton]