RARE MEDIEVAL German Knights Sword Oakeshott Type XIV From Museum WWII $5,000 For Sale - New and Used

This is an original antique German medieval Knights Sword belonging to theOakeshott TypeXIV category. Ewart Oakeshott was the supreme expert in antique arms and armor, andthe Type XIV Knights sword was hispersonal favorite type of sword. It is also one of the rarest of all swords.These rare swords were a transitional type of sword used to stab through full plate armor which was being used in battle in the late 1300s-1400s. There are only a few known surviving antique examples of this sword in existance (including the famous example ondisplay inthe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

This rare hand forged sword measures approximately 34" overall length, with an approximate 7" wide crossguard. The blade tapers greatly down to the sharp point with a central fuller down 3/4 of the blade, as is common in these thrusting swords.Thesword is in excellent condition, very solid and stable, and the blade appears to have the original finish mostly intact, and is stillvery sharp on the edges. It has some minor pitting in a few places, as you can see in the pictures, but otherwise very good.The sword has a darker grey patina covering uniformly covering the sword with darker places, all showing its age. The leather wrap over wood grip, appears to be very old, but I am guessing that it is a 19th century replacement. The pommel is large and heavy, with small marks from age, andthere might be remnants of some past engraving marks in the center, but it is hard to tell.This style ofsword would have been carried by Knights in the late 1300s-1400s made to pierce armor plate. It can be seen featured in effigies andin other Medieval art forms across Europe (please see pictures).

Here is the known history and provenance of the sword: It was purchased by my family in the early 1990s from an antique seller in upstate New York. His father had lived in Germany and collected a variety of original medieval swords and weapons after WWII.He had purchased many original antique swords from estate sales and sales during the 1950s and 1960s in Germany and France(many of the items had been plundered from major European museums,which was very common). This swordis thought to have been housed in a museum at one time until "liberated" during WWII. The sword along with other antique swords (Medieval through 17th century) had been packed in a few crates and shipped to America when he immigrated here in the 1970s, and all the swords were covered in Cosmolene (oil used by museums and collectors prior to 1970). When my family purchased the sword, it was still covered in this cosmolene substance for preservation. It was purchased for around $2,400 at that The sword has been looked at by a few sale houses and expertsin the late 1990s including the experts at Christies andSothebys, and they stated that it appeared to be of proper authentic construction, all handforged with a lot of age. It is unclear whether the sword is original 15th century, or possibly an early 19th century sword done in this style. It is possibly asword created by famed 19th century Master German armorer Ernst Schmidt as it is of VERY high quality and well made. The sale houses and other experts said that if the sword was 19th century, then its value would be appraisedaround $5,000-$6,000, possibly more depending on the sale. If itwas made by Ernst Schmidt, then the value would be even higher (nearer $8,000). If it is original 14th century, then the value would be much higher, appraised more than $40,000 - $75,000 (however the price would be most likely higherin today's market). Please study the pictures. I will let the buyers decide the value. Either way,it is at least worth several thousand dollars according to the experts, and I am listing itat a very low start price with no This is an original antique masterpiece which would make a stunning display piece or investment. I have had many collectorsinquiring about this sword over the last 15 years, including some of the most well known names in the antique arms and armor world who have made offers for it.It isone of the rarest swords to come up for sale on , and this opportunity will not come again. Serious buyers only please.ALL sales are final. Non- paying buyers will be prosecuted.Please contact me with anyquestions and offers. Buyer pays shipping costs.Paypal is accepted.