Toledo or Solingen marks

Jim McDougall · 12th November 2016, 04:11 AM

Apparantly there are Brach's in Solingen latter 16th century, an Arnold 1573-1640 and Jacob c 1600. Some of their work has the crowned T (=Toledo) applied spuriously to allude to manufacture there.

There was a Johannes Brach who went from Solingen to Toledo in 1620s along with a number of Solingen smiths. His son Heinrich was in Solingen and producing swords in the first half 17th c . according to some references but in one German reference stating later into early 18th.

A swept hilt rapier stated to be Saxon and of pre 1650 is inscribed HEINRICH BRACH on both sides of blade and with crowned king both sides was seen at auction in 2014.

With that supporting the probable earlier period for Heinrich, and a rapier of German form suggests that he was indeed in Solingen rather than Toledo as inscribed on the blade of this rapier. He would not be producing German style rapiers in Toledo.

One of the Solingen smiths who went to Toledo also, was Johann Hans Ohlig c 1620-50 and along with crowns kings head, he was known to use a crowned 'Moors head' as well .
In Solingen, Peter Munsten zu Elberfeld c 1552-1628 used variations of uncrowned Moors heads.

It would seem plausible that the indiscernible marking on the blade of this rapier may be a Moors head, and with the well known purloining of marks used in Toledo as well as in Solingen, that this Spanish type example (Norman #83; Valentine 35,36) might have been made by HEINRICH BRACH in Solingen .
The TOLEDO added to the name possibly to further enhance the sword to Spanish market with others such as by ENRIQUE COLL (Heinrich Koll) et al .

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12th November 2016, 04:11 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Apparantly there are Brach's in Solingen latter 16th century, an Arnold 1573-1640 and Jacob c 1600. Some of their work has the crowned T (=Toledo) applied spuriously to allude to manufacture there. There was a Johannes Brach who went from Solingen to Toledo in 1620s along with a number of Solingen smiths. His son Heinrich was in Solingen and producing swords in the first half 17th c . according to some references but in one German reference stating later into early 18th. A swept hilt rapier stated to be Saxon and of pre 1650 is inscribed HEINRICH BRACH on both sides of blade and with crowned king both sides was seen at auction in 2014. With that supporting the probable earlier period for Heinrich, and a rapier of German form suggests that he was indeed in Solingen rather than Toledo as inscribed on the blade of this rapier. He would not be producing German style rapiers in Toledo. One of the Solingen smiths who went to Toledo also, was Johann Hans Ohlig c 1620-50 and along with crowns kings head, he was known to use a crowned 'Moors head' as well . In Solingen, Peter Munsten zu Elberfeld c 1552-1628 used variations of uncrowned Moors heads. It would seem plausible that the indiscernible marking on the blade of this rapier may be a Moors head, and with the well known purloining of marks used in Toledo as well as in Solingen, that this Spanish type example (Norman #83; Valentine 35,36) might have been made by HEINRICH BRACH in Solingen . The TOLEDO added to the name possibly to further enhance the sword to Spanish market with others such as by ENRIQUE COLL (Heinrich Koll) et al .