Pre Owned Albion Museum Collection Hallmark Series – The Ljubljana Sword

This Pre-Owned Albion Ljubljana is in excellent condition overall. Its components are all still solidly fitted. It has a minor amount of light cosmetic blemishing present. The original wooden box is included but it is in a state where it needs some repairs. The original wooden box has its wooden components held together by staples, many of which are coming loose with one corner reinforced with tape. With some careful work and replacing the staples with glue or screws the box could be restored to a state of functionality equivalent or nearly so when it was new, a skilled hand might even improve it. 

This sword is a recreation based on the exhaustive analysis of a 15th century original example by Peter Johnsson. The original sword is a master-crafted work which is today preserved in the National Museum of Slovenia. Johnssons analysis of the sword demonstrated that its designer made extensive use of geometric principles to establish the dimensions and proportions of the sword in an all-around geometrically harmonic form. This was a practical way of establishing sound design principles in an age that pre-dated standardized measurements. A sword from Albions Museum Collection, this replica meticulously recreates the form, properties and handling of the original in every dimension. It has a blade of 6150 high carbon steel and its crossguard and pommel are cast steel and the wooden grip is skillfully bound in leather. A leather rain guard fitted at the guard completes the sword. Inlaid design has been carefully set into the blade.

The sword N4516 is an unusually fine example of the sword smiths craft. It is masterfully made and an ingenious work of design in the Gothic tradition.

A versatile long sword like the N4516 was effective in cuts against unarmoured targets and excelled in thrusting. Its sturdy blade is well suited for half-sword techniques and the massive pommel may be used as a club. The angle of sharpening is some 30 degrees, making for an edge that is both acute and resilient.

Even with a rather hefty weight of 1650 grams, the N4516 is an supremely agile and responsive weapon as a result of a well adjusted distribution of mass.

The markings on the blade – a dagger shape and one often described as a unicorn – have also been found on other examples from the very late 14th century and early 15th century – notably swords XXa.1 and XVa.2 from Oakeshott’s Records of the Medieval Sword.

You can tell it was made by some of the best craftsmen of its day. There is an economy in form and expression that does not take away anything of its power of presence. Rather it makes its character come out even stronger. The shape is stark and graceful with something very essential about it. It is close to the ideal idea of what a sword of this kind should be. – Peter Johnsson