Oakeshott Type XV

The Oakshott Type XV is one of those medieval swords that rewards close study. At first glance it looks plain, almost understated, yet its geometry shows the shift in European warfare during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It was built to thrust with real authority while still keeping enough edge for light cutting. When I handle one in a museum context, I am always reminded how these swords narrow the conversation from sweeping cuts to precision and control.

Specification

The defining element is the diamond-shaped cross section with a strong central ridge. This gives stiffness for penetrating mail gaps and newly emerging plate armour.

General Characteristics

• Primary function. Powerful thrusting with secondary cutting ability
• Blade geometry. Diamond section with pronounced mid-rib
• Taper. Strong profile taper from hilt to point
• Hilt forms. Short to moderate grip with wheel or scent-stopper pommels
• Typical period. Circa 1250 to 1400

Approximate Measurements

History and Evolution

Type XV emerges at a time when European armourers were tackling the problems posed by improved defence. The spread of transitional armour, coat of plates, and hardened brigandines encouraged swords that could exploit gaps rather than try to shear through protection.
Earlier arming swords had broader blades with flatter sections. XV blades show a clear departure with their rigid spine and acute point. Production centres such as Solingen and Passau produced large numbers, and many swords of the type appear throughout the Baltic, German, French, and Italian archaeological record.
By the mid fourteenth century the type gained a specialised cousin in Type XVa, a longer hand and a half variant associated with professional soldiers and wealthy knights. XV itself fades once later forms like Type XVIII take prominence.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Outstanding stiffness for accurate thrusting
• Strong point that copes well with mail gaps and plate edges
• Good handling due to modest weight and forward taper
• Versatile enough for both mounted and foot combat

Disadvantages

• Less cutting power than broader blades
• Requires skill to use effectively, especially in draw-cuts
• Not ideal against heavy armour in later periods
• Some surviving examples are quite narrow, limiting versatility

Comparison with Similar Weapons

Type XV sits in a transitional space. It is more specialised than XIV and XVI but less so than XVa. Collectors often view it as the first truly dedicated knightly thrusting sword.

Legacy

The type’s influence stretches into later arming swords and ultimately into the aesthetic of many fifteenth century blades. Its reputation as a knight’s sidearm is well earned, and its clean lines continue to attract modern makers.
Film and games occasionally draw on Type XV forms when depicting late medieval knights, even if they rarely say so outright. Modern HEMA practitioners value its point control but usually favour later XVIII varieties for sparring.

Where to See Surviving Examples

Some of the best preserved pieces stand in major European collections.

• The Royal Armouries, Leeds. Several XV and XVa examples with clear ridged geometry
• The Wallace Collection, London. Notably A459, a textbook specimen
• Musée de l’Armée, Paris. Good representation of fourteenth century arming swords
• Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg. Excellent late medieval holdings
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. High quality XVs among its knightly swords

Collectors Guide

Type XV swords are desirable because many survive in decent condition and their forms appeal to enthusiasts of the high medieval period.

Market Considerations

• Provenance drives prices more than condition in many cases
• Intact points and original pommels raise value significantly
• Short grips sometimes indicate later alterations, which reduce desirability
• Blades with crisp mid-ribs and minimal pitting command premiums

Typical Auction Prices

Advice for Collectors

• Request metallurgical imaging when possible to confirm period authenticity
• Pay attention to pommel reuse, which was common in the medieval world
• Avoid over-polished examples as the ridge geometry is easily damaged
• Consider reputable dealers such as Hermann Historica or Czerny’s