2506 - A German executioner's sword, the etched blade bearing a magical inscription, 16th/17th century

A German executioner's sword, the etched blade bearing a magical inscription, 16th/17th century A sturdy double-edged blade from around 1550/60 with a triple narrow fuller. Elaborate black etching on both sides. On one side of the fuller, multiple repetitions of the magical formula “ABRACUI” surrounded by scrollwork and arabesques. At the base of the fuller, an etching reading “AMSELV” (?) runs across the blade and is difficult to decipher. On the opposite side, an etched scrollwork design on a finely dotted background. Straight iron guard, with octagonal arms featuring fine pommels. Conical tang; the octagonal, slightly grooved pommel features a stepped riveted pommel cap. The surfaces are coated with heavily yellowed silicone for conservation purposes; condition can be significantly improved through cleaning. Length: 121.5 cm. The length and shape of the blade are atypical for an executioner’s sword and are more characteristic of a combat sword of that period. It therefore stands to reason that, due to its distinctive inscription, the blade was later repurposed as an executioner’s sword and mounted with this hilt around 1600–1650. The phrase “ABRACUI” is presumably a version of the “Abracadabra” known today, a universal magical protective formula that has been in use since late antiquity. Condition: II–III