Unearthing the TOTO Sword – A Medieval Puzzle from a Northern Italian Bog

Discovery & Provenance: Where, When & How

In the late 13th to early 14th century, a remarkable sword was deposited—or perhaps lost—in a peat bog in Northern Italy. Though the precise findspot has not been publicly documented, conditions in the peat bog preserved the blade with stunning clarity. Based on its design and features, scholars date the sword to approximately 1275–1325. The blade was eventually acquired by the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England, where it is now catalogued as Object IX.1106.

Preservation by the Bog

Peat bogs offer a rare combination of preservation factors. Their acidic, low-oxygen environment prevents the typical corrosion that destroys buried metals. As a result, the TOTO sword emerged with a distinctive deep purple-black patina, its form and fuller intact, providing modern researchers with a nearly pristine example of a medieval arming sword.

A Unique Inscription

Roughly 7 inches below the crossguard, on both sides of the blade, is an etched inscription: a series of concentric circles enclosing the repeated word "TOTO", stylized as "TOTOTOTO". This kind of inscription is exceptionally rare. While some medieval swords bear religious or maker's marks (such as the famed +ULFBERHT+ swords), the meaning of "TOTO" remains uncertain. It could represent a personal name, a smith's mark, or a symbolic word denoting fidelity or strength. The repetitive pattern suggests emphasis—a deliberate and meaningful choice by the sword's maker or owner.

Typology & Construction

According to Oakeshott's typology, the TOTO sword falls into the Type XIV category:

• Blade: Broad, with a central fuller extending two-thirds the length. Designed for both cutting and thrusting.
• Pommel: Type W, a large wheel-shaped pommel, common from the late 13th to mid-14th century.
• Grip: Though the original grip material did not survive, contemporary reconstructions suggest a wood core wrapped in leather or cord.

The overall form and proportions point to a weapon made for a mounted or dismounted knight, suitable for penetrating mail and lightly armoured opponents during the period of transitional plate development.

The Rainguard Question

The original TOTO sword does not retain a rainguard (chappe), likely due to the perishable nature of leather. However, iconographic evidence from effigies and illuminated manuscripts shows that leather rainguards were commonly used in this period. As such, many faithful reproductions of 13th- and 14th-century swords include this feature. The rainguard would have helped protect the blade from water ingress when sheathed and may have aided in blade retention.

Was There Another Sword?

There are unconfirmed notes suggesting that a second sword was discovered at the same site, now possibly held in a private collection in Rome. However, this has not been formally documented or studied, and it remains a point of speculation. No public records definitively connect the two swords beyond anecdotal accounts. As it stands, the TOTO sword is treated as a singular find in the Royal Armouries collection.

Why the TOTO Sword Matters

• Unique Inscription: The "TOTO" mark sets it apart from other surviving swords of the period.
• Excellent Preservation: The bog environment yielded one of the finest-preserved medieval arming swords ever found.
• Typological Significance: It is a textbook example of a Type XIV sword with a W-type pommel.
• Educational Value: Reproductions allow historians, martial artists, and collectors to study and handle a faithful representation of this rare sword.

Reproductions & Legacy

Modern reproductions of the TOTO sword, including one officially licensed by the Royal Armouries, bring this historic blade to life. These replicas faithfully reproduce the blade's proportions, the distinctive inscription, and in many cases, the period-accurate rainguard. Our featured images show two such reproductions:

• Header Image: A side-by-side of two TOTO sword replicas
• Secondary Image: Detail shot of the etched "TOTOTOTO" inscription on both blades
• Third Image: Close-up of the hilts, highlighting pommel and grip

By studying this sword—and engaging with its modern reproductions—we preserve not just a weapon, but a small piece of medieval mystery, craftsmanship, and identity. The TOTO sword reminds us that even a single blade, buried and forgotten, can speak volumes about its time.

For further reading on medieval sword typology, inscriptions, and bog preservation, consult the works of Ewart Oakeshott and the Royal Armouries online catalogue.