Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 1st July 2019, 07:41 PM   #1
CSinTX
Member
 
CSinTX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 233
Default Heavy Rapier

Does anyone recognize the copper inlaid X's in the blade? Thoughts on age, origin, other similar examples, etc? Measures 118cm. It's heavy but balances very well in the hand.
Attached Images
      
CSinTX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st July 2019, 09:12 PM   #2
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Beautiful piece indeed; would not mind to have it .
Because, precisely as you say, being a 'heavy' piece, i would (personally) call it a (swept hilt) sword, not a rapier. Can you tell the blade width at its base ?
I would not know what the mark represents, but certainly not Spanish ... i would say.
Others will hopefully have a better judgement.


.

Last edited by fernando; 1st July 2019 at 09:27 PM.
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 12:07 AM   #3
NeilUK
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 125
Default

I don't know about the single cross but the more elaborate mark on the first detail photograph is the reichsapfel, an imperial mark of a large cross fourche' surmounted on a girdled sphere, found very often on southern German blades of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Neil
NeilUK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 05:47 AM   #4
Philip
Member
 
Philip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,036
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
Beautiful piece indeed; would not mind to have it .
Because, precisely as you say, being a 'heavy' piece, i would (personally) call it a (swept hilt) sword, not a rapier. Can you tell the blade width at its base ?



.
Nando, the proportions of the blade do indeed suggest a cut-and-thrust weapon more properly termed a riding-sword, or spada da cavallo. Let's wait for the width measurement to come in, to be sure.
Philip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 05:10 PM   #5
CSinTX
Member
 
CSinTX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 233
Default

Thanks for the comments.

The base of the blade measures 3.4cm across.
CSinTX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 06:21 PM   #6
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Ah ... a vigorous riding sword. What say you, Filipe ?
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 06:41 PM   #7
Philip
Member
 
Philip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,036
Default Agreed!

Yes, Nando, it definitely looks equine to me. Come to think of it, the verbal description provided a big hint because a true rapier, being a thrusting weapon should have a livelier more responsive balance without the greater mass that is desirable in a sword that would also be usable for cutting.

CS, I like the style and proportions on the hilt, congratulations on a beautiful sword.
Philip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd July 2019, 07:20 PM   #8
Victrix
Member
 
Victrix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Sweden
Posts: 695
Default

Lovely sword. Likely Passau or Munich.
Victrix is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.