One of the most famous swords in Europe, lotre is a unique item that was created during the 14th century. The weapon was created by accident, after someone cut a pommel of a chalcedony stone into two slivers. The resulting doublet sword was designed to be functional and flexible. The weapon was put aside for several years, until it was rediscovered in the year 1630. Since then, the design has been improved and the scabbard has also been made more adjustable and ergonomic.
No precise historic match for the double-edged blade of a lotre. It has a long history, going through many hands. One of them was Gwinney Lebling, a Duke of Burgundy who commissioned the creation of the scabbard and carried it throughout his lifetime. It was then adopted by Sir William Wallace, who led a group of English army during the Wars of the Roses. There is also a version of the lotre known as the Wallace Sword that is a recreated model of the weapon, albeit having a cross guard.
The lotre was a favorite amongst the French royalty. King Louis XIV became fascinated with the weapon and made it a point to have one made for himself, in order to give him some distinguished prestige and power. A lotre is a very distinctive looking sword and this is its biggest advantage over any other sword. It has a truly unique appearance and can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. The blade is at least two feet long, with a long flat wooden blade that tapers down to the hilt.
The use of a lotre dates back to the time of Alexander the Great, who supposedly found it quite impressive. The weapon can be seen on various monuments of that period, including the porch of the Acropolis in Athens. Although the blade is round and not tapered like the modern scabbards, the lotre still has three vital points. These are the blade base, the quatrefoil point and the pommel.
The scabbard on a lotre is often made of leather, but can also be made from metal or wood. It attaches the blade and shield to the body and is often decorated with motifs and coloured paint. Some stores have additional fittings which allow it to be attached to either a sword or mace, allowing for more versatility. This means that a user can use either a mace or sword and a lotre at the same time, although many swords are specifically designed for use with a lotre. While there are many different styles of maces and swords available, they all basically operate in the same way as a lotre: the user holds the weapon at a right angle to his or her body and draws it across the body, cutting along the surface of the skin.
Lifestre were originally used by soldiers to slash at other soldiers with great force. One such soldier is General legionnaires Bernard Cornwell, who is thought to be the first to use a lotre in battle. The weapon was also used to cut down horses and other targets and was even thought to have been used by William the Conqueror himself. A lotre is believed to date back to around the 10th century, but its precise origins are not known. However, it has recently been discovered that the actual term lotre comes from Latin, meaning “bitter comb.” This type of comb is often used to cut down wood and prepare the ground for planting.