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 24th February 2016, 07:33 PM   #1
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
Default Toledo Rapier Info and Toledo markings

Hello,
Got this rapier with the long, slender blade inscribed on both sides of the fuller "TOLEDO XX HEINRICH XX BRACHO."
I didn't manage to find any additional information about such a swordsmith so any opinions pertaining its origin, age and maker are very welcomed!
Attached Images
     

Last edited by Jim McDougall; 6th March 2016 at 07:03 PM. Reason: add pertinant note to title re: mkgs
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th February 2016, 08:52 PM   #2
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Nice sword.
A bit of a problem though ... a most usual one.
The name Heinrich is German and so not consistent with Toledo. However Bracho may be Spanish ... although not known as a Toledo sword smith, i would say.
Could this be a Solingen blade ?
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th February 2016, 08:58 PM   #3
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
Nice sword.
A bit of a problem though ... a most usual one.
The name Heinrich is German and so not consistent with Toledo. However Bracho may be Spanish ... although not known as a Toledo sword smith, i would say.
Could this be a Solingen blade ?
Yes, Heinrich is a Germanic name, but BRACHO is a typical Spanish surname... just to add more to the mystery.
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 01:36 PM   #4
cornelistromp
Member
 
cornelistromp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,058
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariusgmioc
Yes, Heinrich is a Germanic name, but BRACHO is a typical Spanish surname... just to add more to the mystery.
Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.
cornelistromp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 01:40 PM   #5
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cornelistromp
Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Very interesting! Then maybe BRACHO is the "spanicized" version of the name, to justify the "Toledo" inscription.

Thank you very much!
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 02:40 PM   #6
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariusgmioc
... Then maybe BRACHO is the "spanicized" version of the name, to justify the "Toledo" inscription. ..
Precisely; to attract Spanish clientele .
But it takes Jasper to get these things clear .
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 02:02 PM   #7
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cornelistromp
Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 02:45 PM   #8
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariusgmioc
Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!

His intuitions are nearly invariably right!!!! Actually Fernando knows 'a thing or two' about cuphilts!!! "
This example reminded me of Heinrich Koll, aka Enrique Koll or Coll, who was a Solingen swordsmith who indeed did go to Toledo to work. There were a number of others as well.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2016, 03:17 PM   #9
cornelistromp
Member
 
cornelistromp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,058
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariusgmioc
Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!

very good! btw your rapier hilt is indeed Spanish. Blade can be of Solingen manufacture or as it says Toledo. some Solingen sword smiths went to Spain.
I believe Johannes Brach did this around 1625 ! maybe his father, I have to check this later because my books are stored for the moment.

best,
Jasper
Attached Images
 

Last edited by cornelistromp; 25th February 2016 at 03:47 PM.
cornelistromp 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 05:47 AM.


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.