Anthropomorphic Swords Sources British Museum Metropolitan museum Hull Museum Sword and hilt weapons, various, MMB 1989

These form a peculiar subclass of period weapon that is found across Britain and Europe. The handles are solid cast, semi-realistic representations of the human form; hence the name of the swords. They seem to be exclusively fitted to very short swords or long daggers, sometimes found with a longer sword. Some are found with bronze scabbards as well. Be very, very careful when thinking about buying one of these weapons. To my knowledge, nobody makes a good "off the shelf" replica. Although there is a weapon, with a junk blade, that has a very good "pot metal" handle; That might serve as a basis for casting your own bronze handle assembly. There is a, much copied by various far eastern junkhouses, variant which is very numerous on EBAY ,and other places, inviting called a "celtic sword", which on the surface looks similar to these weapons (below) Let me list some of the things wrong with this sword: Probably a stainless steel blade; which will break. central fuller (groove) - not accurate for any weapon of this period Ricasso (square section on the blade adjacent to the crossguard) - as found on later medieval swords. brass fittings. resin or "macassar" wood (as grown in the East Indies, Philippines or Celebes Islands) grip. "anthropomorphic" design is like nothing found Needless to say, we won't let you use one of these !