Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/306

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  • sidered the finer weapon of the two. On the blade are engraved the arms of

the Visconti family (Fig. 643).

Fig. 643. Sword

Middle of XVth century. Collection: M. Edouard de Beaumont, Musée Cluny, Paris

A very fine sword, complete too (Fig. 644), inasmuch as it possesses its original scabbard, is in the Musée d'Artillerie of Paris (T 26). It is known as the sword of the Constables of France and belongs to the second half of the XVth century. It has the conventional flat wheel pommel and straight quillons drooping at their extreme ends. In the centre of the pommel there was formerly a coat of arms, but this is now missing. The blade is wide at the hilt and tapers to the point. The hilt, a portion of the blade near