A Large Spanish Cup Hilt

[ulfberth]

So its the same symbol that Fernando recognised on the sail guard dagger Casey has.
Here is an example of a 16th c sword with a scallop shell type pommel and a rapier that has the shell decorations all over its guard, Poldo Pezolli museum Milan
Notice that the rapier has the same typy of quillion block with thick side walls to hold the blade firm.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[Jim McDougall]

Ulfberth, thank you for these additional examples!
It does seem that Milan was distinctly part of the Spanish provincial regions under the Habsburgs until the beginning of the 18th c. This is in my view one of the things which often makes regional or national identification of many rapiers so challenging. While the cuphilt was of course mostly associated with Spain and Portugal, many were indeed Italian.
Therefore the scallop shell device in motif seems of course represented on many weapons accordingly.

[ulfberth]

Of course Jim, the origin or the place were a certain style or fashion emerged would in time be further dispersed to other countries.
The sword makers of the period must have inspired and influenced each other as Toledo inspired Solingen etc etc

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[CSinTX]

Thank you everyone for all of the information!

Fernando, I looked closely and could not find any smith marks that are exposed. It did remind me though, that I forgot to take photos of the "anchors" located just forward of the fullers. I know these are common but could someone remind us if they have a certain significance or if just simply decoration?

[cornelistromp]

Hi,

unfortunately the anchor is not a mark but was used by the blade smith as an orientation point to indicate the end of the fuller, and of course also has a decorative function.Sometimes the shape gives some more information about the origin, in this case the double anchormark looks a spltted cross which could imply an Italian origin.however this is purely speculation.

best,
Jasper