Rating and value of 15th century French swords

If you own a sword, and would like to know its value, and if you don't know, the period and model of the sword, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your weapon, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your item, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.   

Rating and value of 15th century French swords

Swords are among the most sought-after collector's weapons on the auction market. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on model, state of preservation, who owned it, and other criteria. Nowadays, prices for these weapons can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces. The price at which they sell on the art market currently ranges from €90 to €3,780 - a considerable difference, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to antique swords. In March 2023, Auctie's presented a 15th-century Cinquedea-style ceremonial sword, which sold for €56,320. A look back at past auctions and more details on these weapons.

Order of value ranging from a simple sword to the most prestigious

A look back at the history of the sword

Archeological digs date the existence of swords back to the Merovingian dynasty (spanning from Clovis to Charles Martel, from the 5th to the 8th century). Few swords were available at the time. Long knives and spearheads were more common in combat. Some claim that the sword of the coronation of kings, part of the arms of France, dates back to Clovis and has been restored over the centuries. It is a fact that some pieces date back to the Carolingian era, but not earlier.

The boundary can sometimes be blurred when it comes to the denomination of edged weapons  a sword is one, made of an acute, straight blade. It is fitted into a handle with a guard. This weapon is older than the sabre.

The first swords to be found on the auction market are from the Viking era, around the 8th century. Swords were forged using complex techniques, and were very heavy.

This was followed by an uneventful period of warfare, until the Crusades. Soldiers needed swords, and several models appeared. Ewart Oakeshott will classify them.

In the Middle Ages, the sword became a symbol of power, worn by knights and lords as a symbol of power. In the Renaissance, these weapons were still relevant and were to be used massively, notably by the army of Henri IV, King of France and Navarre, during the Wars of Religion. In the 15th century, swords began to be more elaborate, with finer blades and more elaborate guards. Swords thus became veritable objets d'art, symbols of divine power that were even used to crown kings.

Reasons to sell an antique sword at auction  

If you own an antique sword (15th century or otherwise) and don't know how to sell it, auctions are one solution. Indeed, collectors use this means to find models that correspond to a particular battle or that belonged to their ancestors. Prices can thus reach unprecedented amounts.

Antique swords obviously have a financial value on the art market, but they also have a historical value. Swords bear witness to the various conflicts of their time and the power wielded by those who owned them. They also show how the design of weapons evolved scientifically.

Knowing the value of a 15th century sword

If you happen to own a sword, from any era, and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your item, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your property, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.