![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 56
|
![]()
Hello Gang: I recently purchased this rapier at an auction in LA. 40 inch blade and 49.25 inches overall. The hilt is coated with silver and silver dots. It was simply described as European. I am thinking English hilt - circa 1600? The writing/symbols on the blade and ricasso are hard to decipher. Any ideas regarding country and date of origin are welcome.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 132
|
![]()
The style of decoration, with many small studs covering almost every surface, goes back much earlier in the 16th century. It can be seen in a number of Spanish, Italian, and French portraits - below is Don Carlos, the ill-fated son of Philip II, painted in 1564. The style of the guard is much later of course, probably others here can tell you more about than I can.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Leiden, NL
Posts: 474
|
![]()
My layman's guess would also go to English cavalier hilt, maybe British civil war era? Would be good to see a closeup of the writing in the fuller.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 56
|
![]()
my best attempt to photograph the marks in the fullers...thanks for your help!!!
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Really a hard job to figure out. Looks like both pictures are from the same side; maybe the other side shows different lettering. Also looks like these two are upside down
![]() . |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 132
|
![]()
It looks to me there are only three letters (M, A or V, and..?) that repeat in semi-regular order, not an actual word or name. There are other examples like this - I have seen several recently, but now I can only remember this one, marked CAINO, with on either side the letters:
N S R N S R N S G https://www.rct.uk/collection/search...3/rapier-blade |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
|
![]()
These letter groupings are acrostics, well known to have been used in these Brescian regions of Italy on their blades in 16th-17th c. They are often first letters of phrases, mottos, or invocations however in these repeated letter forms may have other arcane significance.
As noted, CAINO was one of the key proponents of this fashion. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Leiden, NL
Posts: 474
|
![]()
Is it me or does that say "MAMA"?
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | ||
Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 132
|
![]() Quote:
Quote:
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|