Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - 12th-13th Century Jinete Swords?

midelburgo · 18th February 2026, 11:21 AM

I remember vaguely the thread on that french sword.

The most informative paper on those swords is the article in Gladius by Nicolle on the two found in Gibraltar.

One of these battle swords is at Seville archeological museum.

In 2020, the Madrid National Arqueological Museum was able to mount an exposition on Spanish muslime metalwork, and it included four of the "pretty" XVth century ginetas.

From time to time a new sword in arqueological context appears in the newspapers, but you never heard again about it. Such was a case in 2025.

I remember some 12 years ago, a private person appeared with a war gineta XII-XIII century in the Esgrima Antigua forum. We tried he would report it to the authorities instead of selling it to a collector. I got some pictures, but we never heard anything anymore. I see now they must be in a backup disk.

About the belt-baldrick, this is something you see in Spanish medieval representations, and it has been commented by Ada Bruhm- Hoffmeyer in one of his volumes (The Sword in Spain, I , II).

There is an extant survivor, the sword of Sancho IV in Toledo cathedral. The belt is long enough and has eyelets, either to carry it as a belt or as a baldrick. This was usual for both moors or christians in Spain. I believe Oakeshot wrote on this sword.

18th February 2026, 11:21 AM	#8
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 294	I remember vaguely the thread on that french sword. The most informative paper on those swords is the article in Gladius by Nicolle on the two found in Gibraltar. One of these battle swords is at Seville archeological museum. In 2020, the Madrid National Arqueological Museum was able to mount an exposition on Spanish muslime metalwork, and it included four of the "pretty" XVth century ginetas. From time to time a new sword in arqueological context appears in the newspapers, but you never heard again about it. Such was a case in 2025. I remember some 12 years ago, a private person appeared with a war gineta XII-XIII century in the Esgrima Antigua forum. We tried he would report it to the authorities instead of selling it to a collector. I got some pictures, but we never heard anything anymore. I see now they must be in a backup disk. About the belt-baldrick, this is something you see in Spanish medieval representations, and it has been commented by Ada Bruhm- Hoffmeyer in one of his volumes (The Sword in Spain, I , II). There is an extant survivor, the sword of Sancho IV in Toledo cathedral. The belt is long enough and has eyelets, either to carry it as a belt or as a baldrick. This was usual for both moors or christians in Spain. I believe Oakeshot wrote on this sword. Last edited by midelburgo; 18th February 2026 at 12:04 PM.