IN CONTRAST TO THE ARMOUR of the Middle Ages and early modern era, which has been comprehensively and accurately researched in terms of art history, little attention has been paid to the study of edged weapons in Tyrol. Due to this research gap, it is possible to conduct fundamental research on a subject which, owing to the current enthusiasm for the Middle Ages, fascinates almost everyone: swords.

During the medieval period, the historical County of Tyrol was especially renowned for its plate armourers, gunsmiths, and their casting abilities. By contrast, few swordsmiths are known, an exception being Hanns Summersperger from Hall in Tyrol.

This article highlights one particular find: a hand-and-a-half sword (Oakeshott XVIIIb) that was discovered by archaeologists in 2013 in a grave of the parish church of Landeck (Tyrol). The well-preserved sword probably once belonged to Oswald von Schrofenstein (died 1497), a local aristocrat and founder of the late gothic section of the parish church.

During the late medieval period, the historical county of Tyrol was famous for its plate armourers, the best-known of whom is Konrad Seusenhofer, who made some very fine armour for Emperor Maximilian I and also for King Henry VIII of England. Additionally, some of the most capable bronze founders of the time, like the Loffler family, also resided in Innsbruck, the capital of the county. They did not just cast bells and statues, but also the formidable and effective artillery of Emperor Maximilian I. With these terrifying siege weapons, the Emperor conquered the fortresses of his enemies, such as at the siege of Kufstein in 1504.

These areas and their master craftsmen were researched comprehensively in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from an art historical standpoint. By contrast, until now, historians knew of only one blade smith. His name was Hanns Summersperger and he lived in Hall, Tyrol. He forged swords, knives and other weapons for Emperor Maximilian I, and his best-known masterpiece is a ceremonial sword which is kept among the Imperial Regalia in Vienna today.

The field of edged weapons has paid little attention to Tyrol. The PhD project of Florian Messner aims to close this research gap by conducting fundamental research on the swords of this region. This article highlights a particular Tyrolean sword, which was discovered by archaeologists in a grave in the church of Landeck (Tyrol) (fig. 1).