Medieval Crusader Iron Longsword with Brazil-Nut Pommel | 12th–13th Century AD

This authentic medieval iron longsword, dating to approximately AD 1200, represents the type of weapon carried by knights and soldiers during the Crusader period. The sword features a broad, double-edged blade tapering to a sharp point, designed for both cutting and thrusting in combat. A shallow fuller runs along the forte of the blade, reducing weight while maintaining the structural strength of the weapon.

The sword is fitted with a straight crossguard of rectangular section and a tang extending through the grip, secured by a characteristic faceted Brazil-nut pommel, a style commonly associated with swords of the High Medieval period. Weapons of this form were widely used across Europe and the Crusader states of the Holy Land.

The sword measures 925 mm in total length (approximately 92.5 cm / 36.4 inches) with a width of 170 mm, and weighs 790 grams, giving it a balanced form typical of medieval arming swords intended for battlefield use.

Comparable examples of swords with similar pommel forms and blade types can be found in major museum collections, including pieces held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

High Medieval Period – Crusader Era (12th–13th Century AD)

This sword dates to the height of the High Middle Ages, a time when Crusader armies traveled from Europe to the Holy Land and established Crusader kingdoms throughout the Levant. During this period, swords of this type were carried by knights and infantry alike and were among the most important personal weapons of medieval warfare.

Forged Iron Sword

Swords of this period were produced by skilled medieval blacksmiths using forged iron or early steel. The blade would be heated and hammered repeatedly to shape its form, then ground and sharpened to create the double cutting edges. The shallow fuller helped reduce weight while maintaining rigidity.

The tang of the blade extended through a grip that would originally have been made from wood and leather, with the guard and pommel fitted in place. The pommel was then peened over the tang, securing the entire weapon together and providing balance to the blade.

Private London collection; previously acquired in Austria in the early 2000s; formerly in the 1990s Austrian collection of Peter Ing Till.

This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database.