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Practice Sword

Bladesmith Ulrich Diefstetter German
ca. 1575
Not on view
Purposely made with dull edges and blunt tips, this practice sword and another similar example in The Met's collection (acc. no. 14.25.1110) are descendants of knightly war swords, which were made to be wielded with either one hand or two. Known simply as the long sword, this type was a specialty of the German school, which continued to practice its use long after it had been abandoned elsewhere.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Practice Sword
  • Bladesmith: Ulrich Diefstetter (German, Au ca. 1536–ca. 1589 Au (now Munich))
  • Date: ca. 1575
  • Geography: Munich
  • Culture: German, Munich
  • Medium: Steel, leather, wood, brass
  • Dimensions: L. 50 3/4 in. (128.9 cm); L. of blade 40 7/8 in. (103.8 cm); W. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 14 oz. (1304.1 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
  • Object Number: 14.25.1111
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Practice Sword, Ulrich Diefstetter German, Steel, leather, wood, brass, German, Munich
Practice Sword
Ulrich Diefstetter
ca. 1575
Pair of Practice Swords, Steel, leather, wood, brass, German, Saxon
Pair of Practice Swords
German, Saxon
ca. 1575–1625
Double-Barreled Wheellock Pistol Made for Emperor Charles V (reigned 1519–56), Peter Peck German, Steel, gold, wood (cherry), staghorn, German, Munich
Double-Barreled Wheellock Pistol Made for Emperor Charles V (reigned 1519–56)
Peter Peck
Ambrosius Gemlich
ca. 1540–45
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564), Kunz Lochner German, Steel, brass, leather, German, Nuremberg
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564)
Kunz Lochner
dated 1549
Hunting Knife Combined with Wheellock Pistol, Ambrosius Gemlich German, Steel, gold, staghorn, bronze, German, Munich
Hunting Knife Combined with Wheellock Pistol
Ambrosius Gemlich
blade ca. 1528–29, etched with a calendar for the years 1529–34; barrel dated 1540 or 1546

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