Victorian Copies - Rapier?
Hi Ron,
interesting view. When Rex and I started collecting we where fortunate to have assistance from a number of extremely experienced and well read collectors of old swords. The first thing they taught us is it is not so much how it looks but how it feels in the hand, which is why it is so hard to be certain from a photograph. Swords where made to be used in battle or made for the wealthy as part of there decorative wardrobe (or watching the battle from a safe distance).
My experience with Victorian copies and/or other display swords is that they are usually extremely ornate and well made, what gives them away is the complete lack of balance in the hand and in many cases signs of post industrial revolution manufacturing techniques i.e modern welds.
In the case of this rapier, after expert advice we know it was manufactured using the hammer and forge pre industrial technique. The sword is exceptionally well balanced in the hand and the blade far longer than anything I have seen on a copy to date. Of course a copy it could still be, however I am also reminded of a tale of two long time friends and well respected experts who fell out for the rest of there lives over a difference of opinion on the authenticity of a sword in the Wallace collection.
To buy or not to buy that is the question, I think if we can secure it for something close to the cost of a good Victorian copy it may be worth the risk.
Cheers Cathey
|