Sword of Justice

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For other uses, see Sword of justice.

A sword of execution, of the kind typically used by a scharfrichter.

Swords of justice, or executioner's swords, were used by trained executioners for carrying out capital punishment in many cultures. Given their special 'ceremonial' purpose, they were usually very well-made of the highest quality metal and were extremely sharp. Though unadorned otherwise, many were engraved with simple prayers akin to last rites, asking mercy for both the executioner and the soul of the accused. In their purest form in medieval Europe, they were only used for capital punishment, and only touched and maintained by sanctioned executioners. Sword execution, while not common, is still an accepted form of capital punishment by some cultures.

Swords of execution were specifically designed for their purpose: to sever the head of an unresisting victim as quickly as possible. To this end, they had a blunt end and a ~100 cm long blade ~5 cm in width. Often they would be inscribed with a motto; a German example reads "Whenever I raise the sword I wish the sinner everlasting life."^[1]

The Sword of Justice at the Higgins Armory Museum is a fine example of such ceremonial weapons used to designate status and authority.