Quote:
Originally Posted by urbanspaceman
It was a fairly common weapon amongst the Border Reivers. In the 15/1600s they were often employed as mercenaries overseas (in Europe) and that is precisely where and when the schiavona shows up.
The thing about the Reivers is that they were outlaws in this country (and in Scotland) and were forced to use whatever they could find that proved suitable; schiavonas must have been great prizes. Jim, that blade is extra special: can you provide a bit more detail please?
Our own Cathey - of HAS - researched and compiled what is almost certainly the definitive work on the schiavona; I recommend it for everyone.
Back to the reason I posted my image:
up till now I have seen a pommel with a hole, and without. When there is a hole it is in the top left corner and sometimes the guard is attached, sometimes not.
What I am seeing here is a hole where no guard fixing could ever occur, so what is it doing there? Is it purely an oddity, or does it indicate that the purpose was other than a fixing to the basket which would explain why it often wasn't.
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It is because its composite, the pommel is turned around and belonged to another schiavona. Now it may well be that this pommel was changed during working life or later.
The wide leather over the ricasso these are rain gaurds, the schiavona was not meanth to be used in a pistol pointing finger forward grip like the rapier.
If you have handled several schiavones and tried this grip you will understand what i mean, its obvious.
kind regards
Ulfberth