A rare late medieval “one-and-a-half-handed” sword has been unveiled at the Museum of Miechów Landm, Poland, after being donated anonymously.
Although the circumstances of its discovery remain unknown, museum officials believe the weapon likely originates from the vicinity of Łuków and represents a significant addition to the region’s historical heritage.
While there is minor corrosion along the blade, the sword is extremely well-preserved, measuring 123 centimetres in total length. Its blade is 94.5 cm long, thin in profile and tapering out to form a sharp thrusting point.
One special feature of this weapon is the hexagonal cross-section in the upper half and shallow fullers: these grooves were shaped into the steel to make it more rigid while reducing overall weight. This design increased the blade’s resilience without adding mass, a feature of advanced late medieval craftsmanship.
The weapon is fitted with a relatively long, narrow, and quadrangular tang that tapers towards the end. On top of the tang is a pear-shaped pommel with a rounded top (7.7 centimetres in length). The pommel’s diameter expands gradually from around 2.2 to 4.2 cm and was peened from above to secure the hilt assembly.
Its form corresponds to Type T3 in the typology developed by British arms historian Ewart Oakeshott. Pommel forms of this shape appear in iconography as early as the first half of the 14th century and became especially common in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The crossguard, which measures about 1 centimetre in diameter and is oval in cross-section, expands to flared ends of 1.3 centimetres. Its arms are twice angled horizontally in antagonistic directions, a stylistic pattern common to the northern Italian perspective.
These guards first appeared in Central Europe in the first half of the 15th century and spread throughout the century. Examples with narrower, rounded-section arms, such as this specimen, are more prevalent in Western and Northern Europe.
According to Oakeshott’s classification, the sword can initially be classified as Type XVIIIa. Such weapons, primarily of this type and dated to the 15th century, are long and slender blades, with hexagonal cross-sections and few fullering details.
They were designed primarily as thrust weapons but were optimally designed to penetrate gaps in plate armour. The extended grip let the wielder use one or two hands, which made for powerful, controlled thrusts. Perhaps that is why such swords were commonly wielded by armoured infantry and mounted knights in close combat with heavily protected adversaries.
Comparable examples have been identified in other parts of Poland, including a specimen discovered near Słubice. Like those, the Longuków sword may be described as a “bastard sword,” a term traditionally used for weapons that fall between classic one-handed arming swords and larger two-handed swords.
The designation “hand-and-a-half” reflects this hybrid nature, as the weapon could be wielded with a single hand or with two hands for greater striking force. Some historical interpretations suggest that the use of both hands required knights to forgo shields, thereby entering battle without displaying their heraldic insignia.
Swords of this form are well represented in late medieval art, including works by Albrecht Dürer, underscoring their prominence in European martial culture.
To ensure comprehensive documentation and preservation, the artefact underwent computed tomography and X-ray imaging conducted by a team led by Professor Grzegorz Teresiński from the Department and Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Lublin, in cooperation with the Institute of Archaeology at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. Additionally, a detailed 3D scan was completed, providing a precise digital record for research and conservation purposes.
Sources : Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments
