14th century AD. An iron sword of Oakeshott Type XVIa with slender two-edged blade, lentoid-section lower third with a shallow fuller to the upper two-thirds, remains of brass(?) inlaid maker's marks to each face comprising a Y-shaped sigil with open arms to one face and an S-scroll with stem below to the other; narrow lower guard of style 5, broad tang and octagonal pommel; the balance well-proportioned towards the point, being ideal for dealing powerful cutting and thrusting blows. See Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991, p.147, for discussion; see Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); a sword from Germany in the Royal Armoury (inv. IX.1084, formerly D'Acre Edwards) showing a similar hilt with a modern wooden grip. 1.1 kg, 1.1m (43 1/4"). Property of a Suffolk gentleman; acquired before 2000; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. The slender tapering blade of this type of sword was developed to overcome the heavy mail worn in this period. The narrow pointed tip was able to penetrate the holes in the rings and open up the links in order to render it ineffective. Fine condition.