A rapier for Christmas

fernando · 5th December 2010, 05:47 PM

Always an added value when a sword is marked ... and signed.

This time by Gonzalo Simon, a Toledo sword maker from the early XVII century.
He figures in number #35 of Palomar's nomina:
See here post #152
Master Simon is recorded to haved lived in 1617.
There is a sword with his signature in the Real Armeria de Madrid and another one in the Wallace collection.

This one here has a 96 cms six face double edged blade, counting from the guard. Total length 118 cms. The width at the forte measures 22 mm and, with a thickness of 10 mm, it acquires the reasonable weight of 1,1120 Kg.
Point of balance 11,5 cms from the guard.
The pommel looks having never being removed; the grip wiring and the two brass turk heads look rather aged ... maybe original ?

I have tried to establish a typology for the hilt at Norman's, but i don't have enough experience to do it; anyway it looks to me like hilt #61 and inner hilt #35, with exception for the turned quillons.

According to the seller this sword was brought from the United States; go figure why it was kept there.
I will be much obliged for any coments on this piece.

.

celtan · 6th December 2010, 01:08 AM

Im green with envy...

Enjoy & Hearty Congrats! You probably did something good this past year, Santa only brings me coal...

M

fernando · 6th December 2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celtan

Im green with envy...

Enjoy & Hearty Congrats! You probably did something good this past year, Santa only brings me coal...

M

How much coal ?
Maybe we can do business

Chris Evans · 6th December 2010, 10:53 AM

Hi Fernando,

What a wonderful piece - Thank you for sharing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

...Point of balance 11,5 cms from the guard.

By guard, do you mean from the quillons, or where the loops end and the naked blade commences?

Any evidence of sharpening and if so, and if so, onwhich part of the blade?

Cheers
Chris

Matchlock · 6th December 2010, 04:48 PM

Great find, 'Nando,

And in perfect patina as well!

Best,
Michl

fernando · 6th December 2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Great find, 'Nando,

Thanks Michl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

And in perfect patina as well!

... And now already with a treatment of olive oil

.

Chris Evans · 7th December 2010, 08:51 AM

Hi Fernando,

Much appreciated your reply.

Cheers
Chris

Norman McCormick · 7th December 2010, 07:19 PM

Hi Fernando,
A real 'Christmas Cracker, you must have been have been extra 'good' this year. I'll just have to be satisfied with my wife's long legs in Christmas stockings this year, oh well "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".

A really nice piece, the sword I mean.
Kind Regards,
Norman.

fernando · 6th December 2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

...What a wonderful piece - Thank you for sharing! ...

Thank you for your precious opinion, Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

...By guard, do you mean from the quillons, or where the loops end and the naked blade commences? ...

Measurement taken as from where the loops end. 7 more centimeters (ricasso) to the quillons.
The point of balance was also measured from the loops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

... Any evidence of sharpening and if so, and if so, on which part of the blade? ...

Let me see if i got you; there are edges starting right from the ricasso, with practically the same angle of (soft) acuteness ... nothing to cut one's hands.
... and no sign of having been (re) sharpened done during its life.

.

5th December 2010, 05:47 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A rapier for Christmas Always an added value when a sword is marked ... and signed. This time by Gonzalo Simon, a Toledo sword maker from the early XVII century. He figures in number #35 of Palomar's nomina: See here post #152 Master Simon is recorded to haved lived in 1617. There is a sword with his signature in the Real Armeria de Madrid and another one in the Wallace collection. This one here has a 96 cms six face double edged blade, counting from the guard. Total length 118 cms. The width at the forte measures 22 mm and, with a thickness of 10 mm, it acquires the reasonable weight of 1,1120 Kg. Point of balance 11,5 cms from the guard. The pommel looks having never being removed; the grip wiring and the two brass turk heads look rather aged ... maybe original ? I have tried to establish a typology for the hilt at Norman's, but i don't have enough experience to do it; anyway it looks to me like hilt #61 and inner hilt #35, with exception for the turned quillons. According to the seller this sword was brought from the United States; go figure why it was kept there. I will be much obliged for any coments on this piece. . Attached Images

6th December 2010, 01:08 AM	#2
celtan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PR, USA Posts: 679	Im green with envy... Enjoy & Hearty Congrats! You probably did something good this past year, Santa only brings me coal... M

6th December 2010, 04:48 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Great find, 'Nando, And in perfect patina as well! Best, Michl

7th December 2010, 08:51 AM	#7
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 679	Hi Fernando, Much appreciated your reply. Cheers Chris

7th December 2010, 07:19 PM	#8
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi Fernando, A real 'Christmas Cracker, you must have been have been extra 'good' this year. I'll just have to be satisfied with my wife's long legs in Christmas stockings this year, oh well "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do". A really nice piece, the sword I mean. Kind Regards, Norman.