One more thing of interest
Concerning execution swords.
Mr. Varesi in Sissach believes that it was the execution swords with very few, or perhaps not any, engravings on the blades that were used the most for actual executions.
He believes that the justice swords with the most elaborate engravings were most likely used in a ceremonial format such as when pronouncing sentence, etc.
I have two execution swords in my collection that bear no engravings or marks on the blades at all yet there is no doubt they were used for beheadings.
Another school of thought is that once a sword had killed many people or when the executioner had died the sword itself was retired from killing. It was at this point that additional engravings were added to the blade to make the sword a more ceremonial justice tool instead of a killing one.
Cheers, Steve
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