OAKESHOTT TypeXXI Swords

As the Middle Ages transitioned into the Renaissance, the sword entered its final golden age as a battlefield weapon. By the mid‑to‑late 15th century, the spread of firearms and changes in tactics began to reshape the nature of warfare. The strategic influence of the knightly class on the battlefield gradually diminished, and the sword's role as a weapon of war shifted accordingly. It increasingly moved from the battlefield to the streets, becoming a daily sidearm for self‑defense and a marker of social status.

It was in this context that a sword type inspired by the famous Italian dagger known as the Cinquedea began to gain popularity.

The blade form of Type XXI derives directly from this Italian dagger. The blade is extremely broad at the hilt, tapering gradually to the point, with a hexagonal or diamond cross‑section. The blade typically features multiple wide, shallow fullers that extend about one‑quarter to one‑half or more of the blade's length.

^{^{Credits: Sword Buyers Guide}}

^{Credits: Sword Buyers Guide}

The grip is generally short, designed for single‑handed use. Guards vary in form—the most common being short and sharply arched, with curled‑under tips. Many guards feature fine etching, inlays, and gilding. Pommels are mostly of disc form (variants of Types H to K in Oakeshott's typology).

^{COMMON POMMEL TYPES——Credits: Sword Buyers Guid}

^{COMMON GUARD TYPES——Credits: Sword Buyers Guide}

Type XXI was not primarily a battlefield weapon, but rather a sidearm for everyday self‑defense and a symbol of social status. This type emerged only in the late medieval period and continued into the 16th century, though its popularity was relatively short‑lived. It originated in Northern Italy but spread throughout Europe.

Below are some historical examples of Type XXI swords:

^{Credits:Casa Caetani}

^{Credits: Private Collection}

^{Credits: North Italy Museum}

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OAKESHOTT TypeXXI Swords