What can you tell me about this sword?

[The Double D]

I was visiting a gentleman this weekend in Ladysmith, SA. He show me a sword and wondered if I might tell hine something about it. I told him, I knew noting of swoards, but did knoe a place on the internet where there may be people who are able to help.

He would like to know the typical information. Who made it, where is from, what is it (Claymore?) approximate age, etc.

[The Double D]

[Rivkin]

Scottish baskethilt (?) - this is Jim's Mcdougall's specialty.

[Tim Simmons]

I know little about service swords really, but to me it looks bit of a dogs dinner. The blade does not match the hilt to me.

[Jeff D]

While awaiting the definitive answer from Jim, I will wade in here.

This appears to be a Stirling style Scottish basket hilt from most likely the early part on the 18th century. They often appear like a "dogs dinner" due to long use (often these were thought to be hidden in thatched roofs after the 45, accounting for their distressed look). There has been multiple old repair to yours (including the riveted guard to pommel)

The Blade is of German manufacture from Solingen or Passau. Yours has the Passau wolf as well as the Andrea Ferara Mark of quality. This style is in keeping with the early part of the 18th century.

Hope this gets you started.

All the Best
Jeff

[RhysMichael]

Like the others I look forward to what Jim would say here and I wish Eljay ( E.B. Erickson ) posted here as well both of them know a great deal about this type of sword. Here is a little on the Ferrara markings that I can add ( I got lazy and cut and pasted some of this from another post of mine at another place on these)

"Andrea Ferara" ( I have seen several spellings different spellings including Ferrara, Ferarra, Feraro) was a bladesmith from 16th century Italy ( though I have also seen it written he was from Spain) . Some swords not made by him were later made with his name on them. I have seen it on styles from baskethilts to saifs ( nimcha ) and kaskara

I found this on this site http://www.historichighlanders.com/wapensh4.htm


"Solingen makers of the 17th century were Iohannes Hoppe, Theill Keveler, and Peter Henckles; the latter's mark was stag antlers. All these, and not a few more, also used the inscription Andrea Ferara (no matter how spelt) on their blades as a selling point to their Scottish customers, to whom it was like a spell or talisman to have on a blade. A little background on this Andrea Ferara: We know that he and his brother Giovan Donato Ferara had their workshop in Belluno in Venetia in the second half of the 16th century, where their blades were renowned for their superb temper. We know from Mr. Wendelin Boheim, the learned custodian of the Imperial Collection of Armour in Vienna, that Andrea was born in 1530 and died sometime after 1583, when he and his brother are recorded in Cigogna's Trattato Militare, published in 1583, where he specially mentions the brothers as celebrated blade makers"

Here is an oxford journal October 3 1891
http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/iss...s7-XII/301.pdf
It cites notes from Royal Archaeological Institute by the Baron de Cosson, F.S.A.
it states
"" It is also certain that, common as blades bearing the signature Andrea Ferara are in this country, scarcely any of them are the work of Maestro Andrea de i Ferari, who gained such renown for the superb temper of the blades which he produced in his workshop at Bellunoin Venetia in the second half of the sixteenth century, where he worked with his brother Giovan Donate de i Ferari, some of whose blades, signed Zandona, still exist. Nearly all the bladescommonly attributed to Andrea Ferara are manifestly of seventeenth century make, and Boheim states that Andrea was born in 1530 and died abont 1583. It is possible that a few of the finest blades existing in Scotland and England bearing the name Andrea Ferara. may be his work, but as yet I know very few which 1 can positively attribute to the master or even to the epoch when he lived; and it is curious that the italian collections possess very few even bearing big name. What is certain is that for nearly fifty yean after his death Solingen turned out hundreds of blades bearing his name, for exportation to those countries where a true Ferara was held in high repute, just aa it supplied false Toledo blades to those where a rapier preferred to a broad sword."

This mark is also mentioned here
http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_engswords.html

As noted above the passau running wolf mark was used by the German family of Shotley swordmakers before it was used by Solingen.
Another link on this
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/make/hd_make.htm

It looks like it also has the "eyelash" marks discussed before.

I hope this helps and it is a wonderful find.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Kirill and Jeff for the kind words!!
Actually I cannot claim expertise or specialty in Scottish basket hilts, but I very much appreciate the compliment and confidence.

I have of course researched them in degree over the years, and have a personal affinity for them, although they are quite out of reach monetarily to collect, for me at least

This example submitted by Double D is magnificent!!! Especially as it remains in apparantly untouched and static condition. While admittedly looking quite rough, it reflects the character and history held proudly in its patination and wear. I would beg the owner not to touch it, and leave it alone, save curbing any active rust if should be the case.

I agree with Jeff, that the style of the hilt is basically similar to those found in Stirling work, however these Scottish hilts have significant variation so it is typically difficult to assign precisely to region. I think the most significant feature that I notice here is the guard arm being attached by screw to the pommel. In the resources and notes I reviewed, I cannot locate any examples of purely Scottish basket hilts using screws for pommel attachment.
This suggests English influence, recalling this method of attachment used most commonly on their so called 'mortuary' hilts as well as many 17th c. sword forms.
In "British Basket Hilted Swords" (Dr.Cyril Mazansky, 2005, p.29), the author notes "...certain Scottish hilts incorporate features of English design", however does not specifically address the pommel screw attachment.

I also agree with Jeff on the blade, clearly of Solingen trade, and of form favored by Scots. The blade itself appears of probably third quarter 17th c. form, and the 'Andrea Ferara' along with the 'running wolf' support same.
It is interesting to note that the running wolf (of Passau) became quite popularly used throughout the blade trade, and also was commonly used in England by the German smiths at Hounslow during the mid 17th c.

The pommel on this sword is closest to Scottish forms of double cone shape.

I would suggest this beautiful basket hilt was probably furbished in the early years of the 18th c., just as Jeff noted, and possibly earlier, and most likely in Scotland and again noting the distinct English influence.

Thanks very much guys!!!
All the best,
Jim

P.S. Thank you too Rhys Michael, just noticed your post. I too wish Eljay would come in on this. Him and I collected together back in the 70's and his expertise on British swords of these periods is phenomenal!! He would indeed have the final word

[The Double D]

This mark is on both sides of the blade in front of the fullers


The fuller has marks of dots and arc and X's. One side has what appears to Awdria and Ferere on the other.





The tip.