Edged Weapons 193
compared the 9.5 cm long crossguard of the Csúny (Čunovo) sword to similar
Byzantine crossguards of the 10th-11th century, 122 and suggested that the blade
of these ‘sabres’ became straight beginning in the 6th through to the 9th-10th
century.123 Hampel clearly identified the basic differences between Avar and
early Hungarian (10th century) sabres: the different type of crossguard and the
curved hilt of the Hungarian sabres.124
Amongst early Hungarian researchers, Nándor Fettich identified sabres in
Late Avar burials. He drew attention to their rhombic crossguard which was
referred to as star-shaped. He distinguished these sabres from the ‘Avar’ sabres
with long, straight crossguard and slightly curved blade.125
László Simon observed the false edge (one of the attributes of sabres) on
several Early Avar edged weapons,126 and identified a group with sabre-like
attributes: those with false edge or curved blade,127 while Csanád Bálint
observed a false edge on the straight bladed edged weapon of Üch Tepe which
he dated to the 6th century. He regarded the false edge as the main attribute of
these sabres, and presumed the general appearance of ‘proto-sabres’ already
during the Early phase.128 A considerable role was played by the Gyenesdiás
burial in the research of Middle Avar sabres, since this find made possible the
reconstruction by Róbert Müller of the hilt, scabbard and suspension loops of
a Middle Avar sabre.129
The edged weapons of the Middle and Late phase were studied by Éva
Garam in detail with the publication of the burials at Tiszakécske–Óbög. The
main attribute used was the crossguard, according to Garam the star-shaped
(rhombic) crossguards were influenced by the cast bronze Byzantine cross-
guards. She distinguished star-shaped crossguards covered with gold or silver
foil, rough star-shaped crossguards, and elongated star-shaped crossguards.
122 The single-edged sword from grave No. 54 from Čunovo is dated to the 8th century, and
not to the Late Roman period as Hampel suggested, though he was correct in suggesting
it compared with the sabre of Ozora-Tótipuszta. (Hampel 1905, 197).
123 This typological argument is still valid, since the number and rate of curved blades are
higher in the Middle Avar period than in the Late phase, when mainly single-edged
swords were used.
124 Hampel 1905, 197.
125 Nándor Fettich (1927, 167–171) studied the sabres of grave No. 27 and 31 of Mosonszentjános.
126 Simon 1983, 38–42; Simon 1991, 270; Simon 1993a, 171–192; Bálint 1995a, 65–67.
127 Simon 1991, 270; Simon 1993a, 171–192.
128 Bálint 1992, 338–342; Bálint 1995a, 65–67.
129 His research clarified the original function of some mounts which decorated the hilt or
the suspension loop of the sabres like the quadrangular mounts of the IIIrd find of Igar
(Müller 1989, 143–147).