Blade for identification

[ulfberth]

Thank you jim,

according to Oakeshott this would be the sword of Sancho IV el Bravo of Castille , died 1298.
The earliest examples I ever held in my hands were 16th C , including this one sold at Christie's in 2013.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[Kmaddock]

Thanks Ulfbert
I will do a bit of cleaning when I get some wire wool,
All I have is a very course OO grade which would scratch the metal too much.
I should have it by the weekend, I do not think there is anything of significance under the rust though and it just looks like foliage under the crud
Regards
Ken

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Ulfberth for the note on the Spanish sword, that is surely a lot earlier than I thought!!!

Ken,
In further thought , this blade may have some even more intriguing history as the figures seem to have some resemblance to those on blades often associated with the notorious 'pandours'. These auxiliary units were utilized
in a number of European armies which followed the concept of these troops in the service of Austria in 1740s.
These kind of figures and the words Vivat Pandur were often in the blade motif. Even this clipped tip seems to me to have been termed a pandour point (Gerhard Seifert, "Schwert Degen Sabel").

Go gently on that cleaning, this looks like a fascinating blade!!!

[ulfberth]

[QUOTE=Jim McDougall]Thank you Ulfberth for the note on the Spanish sword, that is surely a lot earlier than I thought!!!

Hi Jim,
I did not expect to see an etched blade so soon in history either but I think only a few high skilled artist at this period were able to do it and as with all hand craftsmanship they would keep the method the secret of the family.
In the 16th century the etching was sure more wide spread, while etched blades of this period are extremely rare we do see more etched helmets and other armor in this period.
In the picture is a 17th C Pappenheimer rapier that has an etched crest on the ricasso used as a makers mark. Its quite uncommon but there are more rapiers like that out there. The ones I saw were all high quality rapiers no arming swords so far ( in the 16th and 17th C )

kind regards

Ulfberth

[ulfberth]

Here is another Pappenheimer (early 17th C) from the same maker with an etched cartouche with the inscription : "ME FECIT SOLINGEN WILHELM WIRSBERG" one one side and on the other side: "GLORIA VIRTUTEM SEPUITUR 1627 " here the eched crest apears on the ricasso and the blade.

for more pictures and info:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9378

kind regards

Ulfberth

[NeilUK]

A small correction to Ulfberth's reading of the blade inscription in the last post: it actually reads GLORIA VIRTUTEM SEQUITUR which makes sense - Glory attends on Valour (or Courage).
Regards, Neil

[ulfberth]

Thanks Neil,

You are right, I used the spelling from the description without checking it any further. But you made me look again and its clear the its is Q and not a P.

kind regards

Ulfberth

[ulfberth]

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Thanks Ulfbert
I will do a bit of cleaning when I get some wire wool,
All I have is a very course OO grade which would scratch the metal too much.
I should have it by the weekend, I do not think there is anything of significance under the rust though and it just looks like foliage under the crud
Regards
Ken

Hi Ken,

don't be afraid to use the 00 wool, it can't make a scratch on a hardened blade and if you still doubt apply some drops of oil with it.

kind regards

Ulfberth