They have a special exhibition of medieval items that were inherited from the now closed Higgins Armory

We all know about the typical items that came out of this time period. But there are also some very unusual things that you might not have heard of.

This is a shield with a gun mounted in it. We call it a gun shield but it's more official name is a Target (shield) with breech loading gun. It is estimated to be Italian and from around 1540.

I can only guess at this but it seems to me that this would be used by a guard on patrol at night. This shield has a very dangerous point on the front of it. Which is a very useful offensive addition to a defensive shield. But it also has a lantern in it! Wow, that is pretty unique. Note the little doorway on the front to allow light out. And notice the little chimney on the top to allow smoke to flow out.

This next picture shows a couple of very unique and unusual swords. The sword on the left and the one in the center are "gauntlet swords". You wear them like a gauntlet. They come out of India and anywhere between the 1500's and 1700's.

The official name for this kind of sword is a "striking blade" but more commonly it is called a "flamberge" or flame blade because of it's unique wavy shape. I would imagine something like this was quite a challenge to blacksmith up! It is quite beautiful.