Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/293



Probably French, middle of the XVIth century. J 377, Musée d'Artillerie, Paris

finely chased and gilt with small floral trophies eminently French in style. The grip, we consider, is hardly of sufficient length to balance the hilt properly; this is, however, a modern addition. The blade, like all estoc blades of early XVIth century date, is very strong and of bayonet-shaped section; while beneath the ring-guard of the hilt is a triangular cap made to fit over the top of the scabbard. This is a fine fighting weapon and formidable for the purpose it was doubtless intended to serve—simple thrusting. Furnished with a different type of blade, but made to serve the same purpose, is another sword of large proportions in the Musée d'Artillerie, J 95 (Fig. 1330). The