History of the Sword - Late Bronze / Late Iron Ages (1,200 - 500 BCE) Naue Type II - Style B

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One of the longest lasting of all sword types was the Naue II, also known as the grip-tongue sword or Griffzungenschwert. First appearing in the Late Bronze Age (1,450 BCE) it lasted well into the Iron age, a span of 500-700 years, and was made in both metals. Ranging in length from 50-85 cm (19 in.-33 in.), the sword was characterized by straight sides until narrowing to the point, although a few in both bronze and iron swelled slightly towards the tip giving them a leaf-shape. As with many other sword types of this period, the entire weapon was made in a single casting which incorporated raised flanges into the edges of the tang in order to accept grips of wood or bone. Due to its' versatility as both a slashing and stabbing weapon, the sword and its' variants enjoyed a wide geographic range during it's time period, being found as far east as Greece and Syria, South into Egypt, and as far west as Spain and the British Isles. This model represents a typical Naue Type II sword with straight sided blade and wooden hand grip with pommel. Overall length = 28 inches. #Britain #British #British_Isles #bronze #bronze_age #Egypt #Egyptian #Europe #European #flange_hilted #Greek #Greese #iron #iron_age #Mycanae #Mycanaean #Spain #Spanish #sword #Syria #Syrian #warrior #weapon