A Spanish rapier Early 17TH century

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Jasper,


Can you offer thoughts on the curious mark at the forte , which looks like a crescent?

All best regards
Jim

the half-moon (crescent) single or double appeared frequently on the ricasso or on the middle of the blade, at blades from Toledo in the 16thC and 17thC.
Also Spanish marks like this were copied in production centers such as Solingen.
In the late 16th century there was largely and lively trade in weapon parts, such as blades. It is impossible to say whether this is a Toledo export blade or a German blade.Also it is difficult to determine where the rapier is put together.

It is, however, with probability, to say that the inscription is applied later on
given the poor Quality of it.

best,
jasper

[fernando]

Dear Jim,
I have been in contact with Germán Dueñas Beraiz, head curator of the arms section of the Army Museum of Toledo, author of several books on early weaponry.
Here is what he says about the smiths marks, the crowns and the half moon:

... La única marca para reconocer a un espadero del rey era la inscripción que colocaban en los cantos del recazo ESPADERO/ DELREY.
Las coronas en los punzones de espaderos toledanos son muy comunes, y en principio no hemos documentado que tengan ningún significado especial.
Por otra parte Palomares es una fuente muy interesante pero poco fiable a la hora de atribuir marcas, lugares de fabricación o nombres de espaderos, tal y como señalo en un artículo escrito por mi hace unos años dedicado a Palomares en la revista Gladius.
La media luna aparece en algunas hojas españolas, pero sin vinculación con marcas de espadero ni de ciudad.
De hecho Juan Martín no existió como espadero, refiriéndose Palomares a otro espadero cuya firma interpreta erróneamente, concrétamente a Juan Martínez, que por cierto si fue espadero del rey ...

And in case you won't bother translating, here is a lousy version:

The only mark to identify an espadero del rey was the inscription they applied in the edges of the ricasso ESPADERO/DEL REY.
The crowns in the marks of Toledan sword smiths are rather common and in principle we have no evidence of those having a special meaning.
On the other had, Palomares is a very interesting source but not so reliable, in what touches marks, production places or sord smiths names, as i point out in a article published a few years go in the Gladius review.
The haf moon appears in some Spanish blades, but with no direct relation with smiths marks or cities.
In fact Juan Martin has not existed as a sword smith, Palomares referring to another smith whose name he wrongly interpreter, in concrete to Juan Martinez, whom has indeed been an espadero del rey.

[fernando]

If you care for some examples ... the first at the Metropolitan, the second in the Real Armeria.

.