Executioner's sword

Executioner's sword

Specifications of the Executioner's sword:

• Overall length approx. 107cm
• Blade length approx. 78cm
• Guard approx. 23cm
• Blade of spring steel W.Nr. 1.7102 (DIN 54SiCr6) quenched to a hardness of approx. 47 HRC

Directions for the use of bladed weapons.

An executioner's sword is a sword designed specifically for decapitation  of condemned criminals (as opposed to combat). These swords were intended for two-handed use, but were lacking a point, so that their overall length was typically that of a single-handed sword (ca. 80-90cm). The quillions  were quite short, and mainly straight, the pommel was often pear-shaped or faceted.

In the Middle Ages, decapitations were executed with regular swords, and the earliest known specifically designed executioner's swords dates to approx. 1540. They were in wide use in 17th century Europe, but fell out of use quite suddenly in the early 18th century. The last execution by sword in Europe was carried out in 1867, when Niklaus Emmenegger was beheaded in Lucerne for murder.

The blades of executioner's swords were often decorated with symbolic designs, showing instruments of execution or torture, or the Crucifixion of Christ, combined with moralistic inscriptions. When no longer used for executions, an executioner's sword sometimes continued to be used in processions as a symbol of judicial power.