weapon. A second sword in the Musée d'Artillerie (J 62) (Fig. 1340) which is of about the same date is likewise a good example; for, though it possesses a typical German hilt, it has associated with it an Italian lugless blade signed in its double groove "Antonio Picinino." The ricasso is etched and gilt. The grip of the hilt is the original one. In the latter part of the XVIth century, and in the commencement of the XVIIth century, the Swiss specialized in this cumbersome weapon, and a certain make of the two-hander, coarse and heavy in workmanship, is readily recognizable as Swiss in provenance. Of this type we illustrate an example (Fig. 1341) formerly in the collection of the Duc de Dino, now in the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
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Fig. 1341. Two-handed sword of the ordinary Swiss type
Late XVIth or early XVIIth century. Metropolitan Museum, New York
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Fig. 1342. The practice of the düsack
From a copperplate engraving by Yost Amman (1539-1591)
We will now resume the story of that family of curved swords which derived its form from the East, and which may be considered as being reminiscent of the fashions of earlier centuries. The wars between the Venetians and the Turks resulted in close if not friendly intercourse and in exchange of weapons. The Venetians employed as mercenaries Greek mounted troops, principally Albanians and Dalmatians, who were termed stradiots or estradiots; so the weapon employed by these legions—a curved sword—got to be known by the name of stradiot. Occasionally we find the name malchus given to a short, curved sword of early XVIth century fashion, doubtless in remembrance of Malchus, who, as is recorded in the Gospels, had his right ear cut off by St. Peter, presumably with an instrument of this kind. Florio, in "A Worlde of Woordes," published in 1598, calls a short curved sword a
