art-of-swords

Executioner’s Sword

  • Bladesmith: Johannes Wundes (German, Solingen, circa 1560–1610)
  • Dated: circa 1600
  • Culture: German 
  • Measurements: overall length 117 cm

Source: Copyright © 2016 Historica Arma

petermorwood

Heading swords (Richtschwerte) are creepy things. I handled one some years back. It had what’s called “pronounced blade-heaviness” which indicated clearly how it was meant to be used.

Not nimbly balanced for fighting, but to make a single horizontal cut. With luck, just one. “If she is steady…”

Not a weapon, a tool.