Early 14th century. An iron hand-and-half sword of Oakeshott's Type XIIIA, cross style 1 (in early form, spike-hilt), pommel type G; the long blade with edges running nearly parallel to the tip; the double-edged blade with a shallow fuller extending along most of the blade's length, creating a tip that is wide and flat and optimised for shearing blows; both fullers decorated with later(?) brass inlay, one side with letters 'SHR' between two crosses, the other side with two inverted A's and a circle between two crosses; the grip longer than ual for type XIII; type G pommel. Cf. Hewitt, J., Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe, 3 vols, London and Oxford, 1855–60; Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991, pp.98ff.; Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994), pp.42ff. 1.79 kg, 1.09m (43"). From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister; from her collection formed early 1960s-1990s. Despite being massive, the sword is balanced so that it could be wielded with one hand, although two-handed e was probably preferred. They varied greatly in size. By the 14th and 15th centuries, swords of this type tended to be very large, distinguishing them from their smaller contemporaries termed 'espées de Guerre' or 'Grete Swerdes'.