By Björn Hellqvist, SFMO Staff Writer

During the restoration of Västerås* Cathedral in Sweden in 1958, a singular find was made. When the grave of the former regent Sir Svante Nilsson Sture (1460-1512) was opened, a sword was found between the coffin lid and the corpse. No such find had been made in a medieval grave in Sweden before, and the connection between a historical personage and a particular weapon was thrilling. Along with the sword, a couple of seals were found, positively identifying the owner. The sword was unsheathed (no trace of a scabbard was found) and in a rather corroded condition. Careful conservation removed the wood fragments from the coffin lid and the loose rust, revealing a fine sword of a rare, maybe unique type.

The sword is 117.8 cm long, about 2 mm of the point missing, making the sword's original length 118 cm (46.46"). The blade length is 84.8 cm (33.39"), the hilt consequently making up the remaining 33 cm (13"). The weight (in preserved condition) is 1 795 grams (3 lbs 14 oz). The blade is slowly tapering to a point. It is of flattened diamond section with concave sides, resembling Oakeshott's type XVIIIc. The width is 43 mm (1.69") at the narrowing, 53 mm (2") below. The "ricasso" itself (which isn't a proper ricasso, just a narrowing) is 50 mm (1.97") long. The thickness of the blade is 11 mm (0.43") at the ricasso, tapering to 6 mm (0.24") about 50 mm (2") from the point. Because of the prominent mid-rib, the thickness may seem excessive, but the hollowed-out sides makes for a rather light, stiff blade.

The hilt is made for both one- and two-handed use. The pommel is of a very rare type, resembling Oakeshott's style T series. Similar pommels are known from early 16th-century German finds. It is made of iron, being of the "scent-stopper" type with eight vertical grooves. The top of the pommel is flat. The dimensions are: height 56 mm (2.2"), width at the top: 55 mm (2.16"), base: 18 mm (0.71"). The cross-guard is also of iron, with a pronounced S-curve in the horizontal plane, making it a cross between Oakeshott's style 11 and 12. It has a square section (11 mm/0.43" across) with beveled edges, giving it an almost octagonal appearance. It ends in truncated cones (base facing outwards). The width is 195 mm (7.68"). The grip is 260 mm long (10.2"), ma de of four wooden slats glued together and wound with hemp string with 2 mm (1/16") between each turn. The grip is covered with leather (most of it lost). There's also evidence of a leather chape (now lost) that had covered the central portion of the cross-guard and the base of the blade. This feature was overlooked for many years before Mr. Patrik Djurfeldt discovered it while the documenting of the sword in order to analyze its function and characteristics.

The provenance of the sword is unclear. As there was no production of quality swords in Sweden before the 1550's, it was most probably imported. Due to the state of the blade, no maker's marks can be discerned. Similar swords have been found in Germany and Denmark, suggesting Northern European origin**. As the sword was buried with Sir Svante, it can't be younger than 1512. The style of the pommel and cross-guard suggests a forging date somewhere in the end of the 15th century. It is possible that Sir Svante's father (Sir Nils Bosson Sture) acquired the sword in the mid-1480's, but I think it is more likely that Sir Svante, who was the leader of a Swedish force against the Russians in 1496, acquired it sometimes during the 1490's. Stylistically and histor ically, most evidence points towards a date of manufacture between the years 1485 and 1495.

(Featured right is a similar sword in the county museum (Länsmuséet) in Skara, Sweden.)

The Västerås sword is different from many swords out there, but that doesn't mean it is impossible to own a fairly accurate replica of it. Del Tin Armi Antiche of Italy makes a version of this sword (model 5161), where the blade is much longer (101.5 cm/40"). While this makes for a very nice and well-proportioned sword, it's unfortunately not an exact rendition of the original. The pommel is almost spot-on, but the grip is about 12 mm longer. The cross-guard is wider by some 5 mm and thinner by 2 mm, while the ricasso is 30 mm too long. As for the blade, the width is about 3 mm narrower, and the thickness at the base is about half that of the original. The leather chape is, because of the previous unawareness of its existence, not reproduced. Del Tin can make a special version of this sword, with shorter grip and blade (the pommel and cross-guard can't be changed). The blade will be 6 mm thick, with a "ricasso" of 50 mm.

The Västerås sword is interesting in many ways. The style, the fact that the owner has been identified and its burial together with Sir Svante makes it very remarkable. The sword is in the possession of the Västerås diocese, and it is on display in the Cathedral museum. The sword is largely unknown in Sweden, which is a shame as it represents a piece of Swedish history and a little-known step in the design of swords. Hopefully, this article will rectify that a little.

Special thanks to my friends Mr. Patrik Djurfeldt and Mr. Peter Johnsson for exclusive information, comments and insights while this article was prepared. These gentlemen were allowed to document and handle the sword, in the process making several discoveries that antiquarians have overlooked.

For the reader who might want a hand-forged replica of the sword, Mr. Johnsson can make one on order. Contact him at cernunno@hotmail.com

Notes:

* Västerås (pronounced "vesterous") is a city just west of Stockholm, Sweden.

** Surviving swords include the Søborg sword (which is 162 cm, making it more a true two-hander) in the Nationalmuseet, Copenhagen, Denmark, a sword in the Länsmuséet, Skara, Sweden, and a sword in the Statens Historiska Muséum, Stockholm, Sweden. While not identical, they are all of the very long-hilted late 15th century type. They have a blade length/hilt length ratio of 1:2.4, 1:1.56 (!) and 1:2.02, respectively. There is also a sword of similar type and proportions in Mr. Ewart Oakeshott's collection, with a blade length/hilt length ratio of 1:2.82. The blade is a type XX. This sword is featured in Oakeshott's Records of the Medieval Sword, page 211.

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