A RARE ITALIAN PARTISAN, CIRCA 1530-40 with broad tapering long robust blade formed with a medial ridge and a pair of slightly up-turned basal lugs, decorated over the lower portion with pointile flowers and linear patterns, faceted tapering socket, and a pair of straps, on a wooden haft 74.5cm; 29 3/8in head A number of partisans with similar decoration and almost certainly from the guard of Henry VIII are preserved in the Royal Armouries Leeds. See G.M. Wilson 1985 pp.15-20.