a huge, more than 5 feet long, antique, forged iron sword with waved blade, known as:
Two-Handed Flammard
a specialized and effective infantry weapon, to be used during a fight amoung pike-squares in the 16th and 17th Century
other names: two-handed great sword, wave-bladed two-handed sword, flame sword, flambard, Zweihander Flammenschwert, espee a deux mains, spada da due mani, double-hander, Dopplehander, Bidenhander, both-hander, slaughtersword, Schlachterschwert, claymore, claidheamh-more, the name Flammberg is said to be inaccurate.
Flammard swords were developed during the
European Renaissance (1500-1600), most being one-handed weapons. They were
lightweight rapiers that could be carried around at all times by normal
infantrymen and bodyguards. At the same time, however, some double-handed flammards were also
built. These much-larger versions, with their undulating blades, were
terrifying, capable of killing several opponents with one mighty swing. Only
specially trained, extra-strong soldiers could wield a double-handed flammard –
and they were usually mercenaries who asked for double the money for their
extra power. These soldiers were called Landesknechte or Doppelsoldners
This sword is made of a very high quality iron and has a forgers - black smith's - makers mark, partial indistinct, but the first letter is an N and the last letter an M, and is believed to be of German origin and made before, at least, 1750
provenance: found by Mr. C. Stahlecker and Mr. M. Eerland in
1940 under a wooden floor of a demolished house in The Hague, The Netherlands,
after bombardements in May 1940, known as De Slag om Den Haag or De Slag om de
Residentie - The Battle for The Hague, a few months later the German occupier
claimed all metal, including iron. Stahlecker and Eerland hid the sword again.
After Worldwar II they retrieved it and it was kept in the Eerland family since.
