Quattuor Evangelistae

'Quattuor Evangelistae', classic medieval sword, inspired by original examples from European museums and medieval art.

This exceptional sword was designed to combine many of the features of the original swords of the period 1270-1330. The blade is a variant of the Oakeshott Type XII, the guard has flared ends, the pommel is a flat disc and is made of brass. The blade has a hexagonal cross section and a long fuller, like many swords from central Europe, with reinforced edges. The blade is marked on both sides with the symbol of the Passau wolf (referring to the famous workshop) and a forked cross, typical of many blades of this period. The short handle is wrapped in black leather and fits perfectly in the hand. The whole is a powerful but sophisticated one-handed weapon.

Inspirations
The evangelist symbols and the general form of the guard were inspired by the original swords. The main inspiration for the guard was a sword from the Royal Armouries in Leeds, UK. This sword is small in size, it also has a similar brass pommel, but slightly smaller. The form of the crossguard is basically the same and also has the evangelist symbols. However, due to their blurred drawing which is now largely illegible, I decided to use clear symbols from another sword. This sword is the famous 'Szczerbiec', the coronation sword of Polish kings, currently kept at Wawel in Krakow, Poland. The design of the evangelists was therefore taken from its crossguard, where they were also placed on the flared ends.

'Quattuor Evangelistae' – The Four Evangelists
This sword bears the name Quattuor Evangelistae, meaning 'The Four Evangelists,' honoring the sacred authors of the Gospels. The hilt is engraved with their ancient symbols: Matthew (the Angel), Mark (the Lion), Luke (the Ox), and John (the Eagle)—each representing their unique testimony to Christ. These emblems, drawn from the visions of Ezekiel and Revelation, were widely used in medieval manuscripts, church iconography, and heraldry. They also adorned sword hilts, signifying the unity of faith and the knightly calling. This blade stands as a tribute to their enduring legacy, a weapon not only of steel but of divine truth and spiritual strength.

Engravings
The engraving works, according to the design and historical inspirations, were made by hand using traditional methods by the master engraver Jacek Jankowski. These are very fine and extremely precise crafts, made in accordance with the medieval style and the way of running lines. As such, they constitute a unique and one-of-a-kind example of craft and artistic work, without any mechanical methods or reproduction using matrices or molds. This is how it was done in the Middle Ages.

This is a magnificent sword with many historical references, while being a unique design, remaining entirely within the parameters, type and symbolism of the original swords of the period.

Measurements:
total length 1003mm
bladse length 850mm
blade width 54mm
grip 92mm
crossguard 175mm
pommel 54x50x35mm
balance 120mm
weight 1200g