Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/346



The hilt is probably of English workmanship, and of the closing years of the XVIth century Collection: Viscount Astor

This sword was one of the purchases made for the Royal Armoury early in the XIXth century from Bland, the famous sword cutler of the time. The third sword of the type, No. 60 in the 1904 Catalogue (Fig. 1380), was given to the Royal Collection about the same time by Colonel Hammond, who, according to the old Carlton House Inventory, obtained it from the Tower of London. The hilt differs but little from the other two just described, save that the quillons are straight and that certain alterations can be noted in the position of the counter-guards. The blade is of flattened oval section, grooved and stamped with the number I. 4. I. 4., and also with the running wolf or fox mark. It is very apparent that the blade does not belong to the hilt, being too short and too light. The ricasso is also lacking. In the old inventory the fantastic suggestion is made that the numerals inscribed on the blade signify the date of its manufacture,