Product description
This beautiful bastard sword is a detailed and high-quality replica of the famous "Writhen-Hilt" sword, dating back to around 1480 and presumably of German origin. The name "writhen," meaning "twisted" or "contorted," comes from the unique shape of the hilt. The original sword was once owned by art collectors Frederic Spitzer and William Randolph Hearst before being acquired by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, UK, in 1952.
This reconstruction features an approximately 88.5 cm long, double-edged blade that tapers towards the tip. The cutting edges are not sharpened. The blade has a prominent medial ridge, typical of swords from the Oakeshott XVIII type. The historical original bears inscriptions in the form of a crowned orb on both sides, the meaning of which remains unknown. However, it is believed to be the maker's mark. In reference to this, this replica is engraved on one side of the blade.
The pommel and crossguard are made of brass to closely resemble the original, where these elements were crafted from gilded bronze. The grip is made of wood and adorned with two decorative brass rings, one in the center and one just below the crossguard. The pommel, quillons (the arms of the crossguard), and the grip are all artistically carved and shaped to resemble a gnarled stave of three intertwined branches, which splay out at the ends. This one-and-a-half-handed sword comes with a leather-wrapped wooden scabbard, featuring a brass throat and chape, decorated with Gothic embellishments.
