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#1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 47
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Hi
recently i bought this sword. I think that it is a Venetian infantry sword. The grip and the pommel seems to be restored. Does anybody recognize the makers mark??? Ive seen it in other swords of that period. any comments welcome. Thanks |
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#2 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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This is as noted, an arming sword of early 17th century and Italian, three of them shown in Bocchia & Coelho ("Armi Bianche Italiene", Milan, 1975) #585;586;587 and all captioned 'spade de fanti' Veneto, 1620-30.
References show corresponding examples Blair (1962) #179; and Ffoulkes (1917) IX49. The grip and pommel do appear replacement as the originals had faceted egg shape pommel, worked ferrule and the grip 'turks heads' are absent on this one. The crosshatching on the guard at center is also notably present on the illustrated examples. You say you've seen this 'mark' (name?) on other swords of this period? What is the name, I cant make it out. The blocked capital letters seem more Solingen to me, and one of these examples has 'IOHANN' partial in the fuller. This blade seems one of the Solingen schiavona type. |
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#3 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
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#4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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These hilts are sometimes known as "crab claw" hilts. I would agree the grip is certainly a later replacement. The pommel also doesn't "fit" to my eyes for the reasons Jim mentioned. They are typically not round like this one, but elongated egg-like shapes. Often multifaceted instead of smooth and typically with an extension at the end to house a tang nub.
In any case an interesting and nice sword. I've also seen SACCHI on various Italian swords from the period, a maker's name perhaps? In any case I don't believe this is a Solingen product. The north Italian blade manufacture industry was more than alive and well in the 17th century. |
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#5 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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Thanks Nando and Iain, so its SACCHI . That is interesting, and good to know this is likely Italian rather than Solingen. It seems these makers were indeed quite active in the 17th century as you well note Iain. There was a great deal of cross traffic between there, Germany and Spain in these times, and as I noted the extremely blocked letters just seemed German.
Ive always thought the scallop shell guards were interesting, and this one apparently reasonably restored, is a great example! |
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#6 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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... And if you keep on digging, you end up finding something. Master Sacchi is not such an unknown smith ... maybe good enough to have his name forged by less famous rivals, a custom often followed in the period.
http://www.weapons-universe.com/Swor...aissance.shtml QUOTING ...Sword blades were manufactured in Toledo and Valencia (Spain), Solingen and Passau (Germany), and Milan and Brescia (Italy). They were sold as unhilted blades and then hilted locally at their eventual destinations throughout Europe. Some blades are marked by their maker, although many are plain. Notable bladesmiths’ names include Piccinino, Caino, Sacchi and Ferrara from Italy, .Johannes, Wundes and Tesche (Germany) and Hernandez (Spain).. Respected names were often stamped on blades by lesser-known rivals to enhance the value of an inferior sword. . Last edited by fernando; 23rd April 2014 at 12:58 PM. |
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