Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Historical and Metallurgical Characterization of a “Falchion” Sword Manufactured in Caino (Brescia, Italy) in the Early 17th Century A.D.

  • Published:
JOM Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A historical and metallurgical characterization of a “falchion” sword manufactured in Caino (Brescia, northern Italy) and dating from the early 17th century was performed to understand the manufacture methods of a Renaissance sword. At first, a set of size measurements was carried out to look for the existence of constant and/or recurring macroscopic sizes, which would indicate a standardized production, or of any type of proportionality between different parts of a sword, which would prove an intentional design activity. Light optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, quantometer analyses, and Vickers microhardness tests were then employed to analyze the microstructure and obtain the mechanical properties. All the metallurgical work is supported by an accurate study on the chemical composition of both metal-matrix and nonmetallic inclusions, which allowed for rebuilding and evaluating the efficiency of the whole production process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. C.C. Tizzoni and M. Tizzoni, La Miniera Perduta (Breno: Tipografia Camuna S.P.A, 1999), p. 61.

    Google Scholar 

  2. G.B. Brocchi, Trattato mineralogico e chimico sulle miniere di ferro del dipartimento del mella. N. Bettoni I, 57–125 (1807).

    Google Scholar 

  3. A. Galassini, Elementi di Siderurgia e di Tecnologia Meccanica (Torino: Società Tipografico-Editrice Nazionale, 1920), p. 118.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G.B. Martinelli, Fondo notarile - 11 Gennaio 1542, from the State Archives of Brescia.

  5. G. Da Lezze, Il Catastico Bresciano di Giovanni Da Lezze, 1610. Reproduced manuscript ed. C. Pasero, F. Apollonio, 1969, vol. I, ch. I.

  6. F. Zucchi, Carta Geografica dell’Stato Veneto in Italia. From the book Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Paesi e Popoli Del Mondo, G. Albrizzi, 1751, vol. XIX, pp. 320–41.

  7. A. Petrini, L’arte fabrile, 1642. Reproduced manuscript edited by A. Gaibi in his book Armi antiche, Accademia di San Marciano, 1963, p. 111.

  8. G. Da Lezze, Descrizione di Bergamo e Suo Territorio, 1596. Reproduced manuscript edited by V. Marchetti and L. Pagani, Lucchetti, 1988, vol. II, ch. I.

  9. E. Oakeshott, European Weapons and Armour from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution (ch. VIII) (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2012), p. 151.

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Gotti and V.V. AA, Caino (ch. III) (Punto Marte, 2011), p. 54.

  11. R. Gotti and V.V. AA, Caino (ch. V) (Punto Marte, 2011), p. 108.

  12. R. Gotti and V.V. AA, Caino (Punto Marte, 2011), p. 158.

  13. L.G. Boccia, F. Rossi, and M. Morin, Armi e Armature Lombarde (Milan, Italy: Electa, 1980), p. 178.

  14. S. Rossetti, Le Fucine Della Valle del Garza (ch. 1–2) (Brescia, Italy: Grafo, 1995).

  15. R. Gotti and V.V. AA, Caino (ch. IV) (Punto Marte, 2011), p. 96.

  16. R. Gotti and V.V. AA, Caino (Punto Marte, 2011), p. 98.

  17. C. Agrippa, Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise, ed. by K. Mondschein (Italica Press, 2009).

  18. R. Capoferro, The Art and Practice of Fencing: A Practical Translation for the Modern Swordsman, ed. by T. Leoni (FreeLance Academy Press, 2011).

  19. J. Meyer, The Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570 (ch. I–V), ed. by J.L. Forgeng (Frontline Books, 2014).

  20. G. Croci, Dizionario Dei Pesi e Delle Misure in uso Presso Gli Antichi e i Moderni, Con Ragguaglio ai Pesi Misure del Sistema Metrico, Lombardi, 1860, p. 38.

  21. C. Quarenghi, Tecnocronografia Delle Armi da Fuoco Italiane (ch. II), 1880, Nabu Press, 2012.

  22. L. Pacioli, De Divina Proportione, 1497, Printed in Venice in 1509 by Paganino Paganini. Pt. I, p. 2.

  23. H. Arakelyan, Mathematics and History of the Golden Section (Logos, 2014), p. 8.

  24. L. E. Sigler, Fibonacci’s Liber Abaci: A Translation into Modern English of Leonardo Pisano’s Book of Calculation, Springer, 2003.

  25. C. S. Smith, M. T. Gnudi, The Pirotechnia of Vannoccio Biringuccio: The Classic Sixteenth-Century Treatise on Metals and Metallurgy, Dover Publications, 2013.

  26. C. Panseri, Damascus Steel in Legend and in Reality, Vol. IV (Gladius: Instituto de Estudios Sobre Armas Antiguas, 1965), p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  27. A.R. Williams, Methods of Manufacture of Swords in Medieval Europe, Vol. XIII (Gladius: Instituto de Estudios Sobre Armas Antiguas, 1977), p. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  28. V.F. Buchwald and H. Wivel, Mater. Charact. 40, 73 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. P. Crew, M. Charlton, P. Dillmann, P. Fulzin, C. Salter, and E. Truffaut, The Archaeometallurgy of Iron, eds. J. Hosek, H. Cleere, and L. Mihok, 2011, p. 239.

  30. E. Blakelock, M. Martinòn-Torres, H.A. Veldhuijzen, and T. Young, J. Archaeol. Sci. 36, 1745 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. P. Dillmann and M. L’Héritier, J. Archaeol. Sci. 34, 1810 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. G. Cornacchia, M. Faccoli, and R. Roberti, JOM 67, 260 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Reference Standard UNI 7845.

  34. C.C. Tizzoni and M. Tizzoni, La Miniera Perduta (Breno: Tipografia Camuna S.P.A, 1999), p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to ASO Siderurgica s.r.l. for supplying quantometer, C/S analyzer, and x-ray analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    G. Tonelli, M. Faccoli, R. Roberti & G. Cornacchia

  2. The Martial Art Museum, Via Garibaldi 3, 25082, Botticino, Brescia, Italy

    R. Gotti

  3. CoReMet, Via Luigi Apollonio 3, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    R. Roberti

Authors
  1. G. Tonelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Faccoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Gotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Roberti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Cornacchia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Tonelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tonelli, G., Faccoli, M., Gotti, R. et al. Historical and Metallurgical Characterization of a “Falchion” Sword Manufactured in Caino (Brescia, Italy) in the Early 17th Century A.D.. JOM 68, 2233–2249 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-1920-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-1920-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation