European rapier (Swedish?)

Evgeny_K · 4th March 2014, 11:08 AM

Dear colleagues,
This broken rapier was excavated in Russia (not far from Saint Petersburg) a few years ago.
Am I right suggesting that it has Swedish origin and could be dated 17th century?
The marking on the blade was pictured not clear, so I'll try to make a better picture later.

Jim McDougall · 4th March 2014, 05:47 PM

I think you are right Evgeny, this strongly resembles the 'pappenheimer; carried by Gustav II Adolphus of Sweden at the Battle of Lutzen in 1632.
This great cavalry commander was killed leading a charge at that battle.
His sword is held at the Livrustkammeren in Stockholm (#1946) and is referenced in "European and American Arms" (Claude Blair, 1962, #123).

While this example has an interesting scallop shell guard, and the example of Gustav II Adolphus has a piercework shell, the guard configuration and overall construction is the same. Many of these had simple pierced holes in the shells. The example in Blair is noted as German c. 1620-30, as does this one appear. Many Swedish, as other Continental swords of these times, were produced in Germany.

Thank you so much for sharing this!!! Excavated and provenance examples like this are pure treasure!!!

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4th March 2014, 11:08 AM	#1
Evgeny_K Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 208	European rapier (Swedish?) Dear colleagues, This broken rapier was excavated in Russia (not far from Saint Petersburg) a few years ago. Am I right suggesting that it has Swedish origin and could be dated 17th century? The marking on the blade was pictured not clear, so I'll try to make a better picture later. Attached Images

4th March 2014, 05:47 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,944	I think you are right Evgeny, this strongly resembles the 'pappenheimer; carried by Gustav II Adolphus of Sweden at the Battle of Lutzen in 1632. This great cavalry commander was killed leading a charge at that battle. His sword is held at the Livrustkammeren in Stockholm (#1946) and is referenced in "European and American Arms" (Claude Blair, 1962, #123). While this example has an interesting scallop shell guard, and the example of Gustav II Adolphus has a piercework shell, the guard configuration and overall construction is the same. Many of these had simple pierced holes in the shells. The example in Blair is noted as German c. 1620-30, as does this one appear. Many Swedish, as other Continental swords of these times, were produced in Germany. Thank you so much for sharing this!!! Excavated and provenance examples like this are pure treasure!!!