The 800-year sword of the Temple knight

The ancient 13th-century sword is said to belong to a Holy Temple knight, which can reach 1,268 - 1,900 USD at auction.

Mark Lawton found a rusty sword in an artificial cave beneath Caynton underground near the village of Beckbury in Shropshire County, England, in the late 1980s and placed on a windowsill. Lawton only discovered the source of the sword after sending it to the local auction house for pricing.

Ancient sword in Caynton cave.(Photo: Bay Media).

Antique specialist Caroline Dennard at the auction house Fine Art Halls certifies that the sword dates back to the 13th century , most likely belonging to a Temple knight . "This is definitely a rare item with all the confirmation signs of a true sword from the 13th century. In the residential area, knights are the only ones allowed by the king to carry weapons, due to It could be assumed that the sword is owned by the Holy Temple knight due to the discovery in Caynton Cave, " Dennard said.

Dennard said the sword's handle was designed to be horizontal lines perpendicular to the blade, forming a cross. This feature serves as a regular reminder of the duties that the knight has fulfilled.

No similar swords have been found in the area before, so the item can cost 1,268 - 1,900 USD despite the broken tip. Lawton contacted the Shropshire Mobile Antiquities Research Team so they could study how the sword appeared in the cave. However, because swords are found in private land, landowners can file claims for ownership.

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