Introduction: Provenanced from one of the finest armories in the world. It has superb original construction with original leather with a large near bastard sword grip.

Discussion: The falchion (malchus/German; fauchon/French) is a stout, short, heavy, single-edged blade sword used primarily for chopping. If you equate it to a butcher’s meat cleaver, you have grasped the use and concept of the falchion. However, falchions with very wide blades are not as thick. The falchion was introduced as early as 1200 and evolved until circa 1600s (see pages 257, 270, and 273 in my book). Later, falchions such as the one under discussion were more elongated to be used for the fast-moving cavalry. Falchion blades and hilts evolved over the 400 years period. The hilt of the falchion mirrored that of other contemporary cruciform swords.  Many people mistake a falchion for a saber. They may look similar, but these two single-edged, curved-blade swords are quite different. The saber is believed to have been introduced to Eastern and Central Europe by a group of Central Asian nomadic invaders called “szablya” as early as the 9th century. The word saber (American) or saber (English) is believed to have evolved in Western Europe in current-day Hungary and is associated with the cavalry who required more “slashing space” from atop a horse and therefore, fought with long curved blades to facilitate this. The falchion, conversely, was probably derived from the Scandinavian scramasax, a very long knife (or short sword). The falchion blade is stout and is used in more of a chopping strike, like an axe or cleaver.  Other curved blades during this period included the tessak (see pages 297 and 298 in my book).

Provenance: The Landeszeughaus (Gratz State Armory) in Graz is believed by aficionados of Arms and Armor to be the world’s largest and best-preserved Renaissance armory. It is a time capsule into European military history during its most violent period. The collection contains approximately 32,000 objects from the 15th to the 18th century. The armory is strategically located in Styria, the epicenter of almost all continuous conflict with the Ottoman Empire.

Description:  Constructed with a long decorated and wide single-edged blade with an upward-turned point, a single long fuller on both sides along the false edge for about a third of the length of the blade, a smaller fuller beneath the longer fillers, punctured with eyelid decorated at the base of the lower fuller,  downward turned quadrilateral quillons contracting towards the tip, with a triangular side guard, original leather grips, with a birds beak pommel to help eliminate slippage. The entire sword has only moderate pitting and is in surprisingly good condition. Dimensions: total length: 37.5  inches, blade: 31.3 inches, guard: 8.25 inches.

Conclusion: This rare, highly prized, provenanced sword is reasonably priced at under $3K. It has a world-class provenance that all collectors dream of. It is in superb original condition, as original as the day it was made. All collectors should have at least one falchion in their collection. ACT-NOW, this one should sell at this price quickly!!!*