Venetian Schiavona – Deepeeka

The Venetian Schiavona has a blade forged from EN45 high carbon steel; the complex and encompassing basket hilt is blued steel. Some Schiavona have baskets which may feel small or restricting to larger hands, but the wider basket hilt to this Schiavona will more readily fit larger hands than some Schiavona.

The characteristic Cats-Head pommel is crafted from brass and the quadrangular wooden grip is bound in tightly stitched leather. The sword is matched with a a slender, wood-core scabbard which is overlaid in stitched and fitted crimson leather and capped with a brass chape. Fitted onto the scabbard is an set of leather sword hangers with brass buckles which allow to set and adjust the angle of scabbard when fitted to a belt. A sword belt of matching, quality leather is included and it has a large, antiqued brass buckle to adjust its fit.

The simpler cruciform-hilted sword iconic to the Medieval period became notably more complex in the Renaissance. While swords built soley for war often kept that basic design with some minor alterations it was swords that were commonly worn by civilians which saw great development in the hilt. Complex guards evolved to answer a need for increased hand protection since civilians or off-duty men at arms would not wear gauntlets to protect the hand while out in town or in daily life. Designs increased in complexity from simple swept rings and knuckle-bars to full-fledged, encompassing baskets – a veritable cage to protect the hand. The Schiavona is one of these developed examples and a rather interesting one, for its broad and sturdy blade was built for war. These swords derive their name from their association as a favored sword used by the Balkan men-at-arms who were commonly in the employ of Venice to bolster the military might of the Republic.