[Jim McDougall]

In Wallace Coll. (Sir James Mann, 1962, p.331) it is detailed that a Paulus Willems was sworn in as swordsmith in Solingen in 1640. His mark was with Three Magi in cartouche. Apparently this mark appears to have been either bought or inherited by a PAULUS MEIGAN , as his name appears with the mark on a late 17th c. sword.

I am not sure of the Clemens Meigan noted, nor Iohannis and the Hounslow venture had pretty much waned during the English Civil Wars with it ending effectively by 1650s, but with that noted this Paulus certainly might have been with the family.

In "European Makers of Weapons, Their Marks", Staffan Kinman, 2015, p.52,
it is noted the family Meigan originated near Solingen in a place called 'zum Eigen'. There was a Clemens Eigen mentioned in 1613, another in 1632, while in 1664 a Clemens Meigan was brought into brotherhood of swordsmiths.

As with many of these families, there were cadet branches of the family which might account for instances of blades marked by makers with same or similar last names, and different Christian names who might have entered the business only in degree or for any number of legal reasons. In the mention noting 'bought or inherited' the mark used by 'Meigan' this seems to suggest such circumstances.

The basket hilt here is a wonderful example of the traditional Glasgow hilt, and by the shapes of triangles in the pierced pattern in the shields likely in end of 17th c.period, and Scottish style in the method of insertion of the guard arms, saltires into slotted pommel. The distinctive lines present in the shields also suggest mid to latter 17th c.
The Meigan blade would seem in accord with latter 17th c. date.

Beautiful example! well done!