Hi Steve,
And welcome here!
Jasper, engraved symbols (gallows and Catherine/breaking wheel) were very common on such blades.
See attachments, from top:
- woodcut of a decapitation, early 16th c.
- various torture and execution styles, 1509
- various torture and execution styles, mid-16th c.
- marker at a historic South Bavarian place of execution, Aholming, early 16th c.
- three Swyss executioners swords, 16th to 19th c.
- 3 details of them
- sword, 17th c.
- sword, ca,. 1530, inscription 18th c.
- detail
- sword, 17th c., Mus. Aholming, Bavaria
- 4 details of 17th c. swords in the Museum Erfurt, Thuringia
Enjoy, and best,
Michael
Last edited by Matchlock; 7th April 2011 at 10:22 PM.
|