Please help me identify the age and markings on this Rapier.

[ASPaulding]

Hello I know this is a cup hilt Rapier. It was suggested to me that it may be Portugal origin. What I don't know is how old it is or what the markings mean. I've never seen one with numbers like this. Any information you can give me will be appreciated. Thank you

[fernando]

Hello ASPaulding,
I could well be a Portuguese cup hilt, but it may be mounted on a blade from a different sword, probably military, from the 18th/19th century, with those number (inventory ?) marks and the little ricasso ?
Other members will tell you better.


.

[ASPaulding]

Yes I thought it could be a so called Frankensword. The blade very much looks like a Rapier blade thou. Hopefully other will also give there opinions.

[Jim McDougall]

I was rather awaiting more detail on this from Fernando, as he is by far the authority on things Portuguese here, and my feel is this is most likely a Portuguese example of a munitions grade, ersatz weapon. The fact that this is a composite weapon does not detract from its viability, as rural posts in the Iberian peninsula as well of course colonial regions of both Portugal and Spain well used these kinds of arms.

While this has the overall feel of mid 18th c., the cup hilt remained in use throughout and in colonial settings even longer. The broad shoulder blade which tapers dramatically to point seems somewhat like earlier Portuguese types. However, without fullers and in this section, especially with the notable numbers and other possible proof or other stamps remind me of training type blades of later period. Clearly the training purpose with sharp point is contrary to that as these blades are typically rounded. The pommel appears of latter 18th c.
The quillon style, faux rompepuntas resemble some Portuguese examples in this period and classification.

The wire grip is unusual and of some concern, Is it cast and rusty or painted?

I look forward to comments toward my thoughts.

[werecow]

The blade looks relatively short for a rapier. How long is it?

[ASPaulding]

35 1/2" total length; 29" blade length.

[ASPaulding]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I was rather awaiting more detail on this from Fernando, as he is by far the authority on things Portuguese here, and my feel is this is most likely a Portuguese example of a munitions grade, ersatz weapon. The fact that this is a composite weapon does not detract from its viability, as rural posts in the Iberian peninsula as well of course colonial regions of both Portugal and Spain well used these kinds of arms.

While this has the overall feel of mid 18th c., the cup hilt remained in use throughout and in colonial settings even longer. The broad shoulder blade which tapers dramatically to point seems somewhat like earlier Portuguese types. However, without fullers and in this section, especially with the notable numbers and other possible proof or other stamps remind me of training type blades of later period. Clearly the training purpose with sharp point is contrary to that as these blades are typically rounded. The pommel appears of latter 18th c.
The quillon style, faux rompepuntas resemble some Portuguese examples in this period and classification.

The wire grip is unusual and of some concern, Is it cast and rusty or painted?

I look forward to comments toward my thoughts.

The grip is very rusty. I would like to clean the surface rust but I heard you should never touch hilt. What is your suggestion?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by ASPaulding

The grip is very rusty. I would like to clean the surface rust but I heard you should never touch hilt. What is your suggestion?

I guess that what Jim wants to confirm is whether the wire is authentic and wrapped around the grip or just some kind of fantasy ... so to say !

Is it iron, brass or copper ?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... I was rather awaiting more detail on this from Fernando, as he is by far the authority on things Portuguese here, and my feel is this is most likely a Portuguese example of a munitions grade, ersatz weapon...

Jim, definitely i am not such a connoisseur; once things are not explicit, i am completely lost .
To say this example does not fall (to me) within the regular range. I would not know how to explain the atypicaly (curve) tapering shape (certainly not due to over sharpening) and that array of digits.vBoth these and what appears to be a mark (?) deserve better pictures, for a possible better diagnosis attempt. Maybe ASPaulding can do that for us ?
The 'knob' with which the knuckle guard joins the pommel, may we call it atypical ?
I have never heard of a detail such as faux rompepuntas; could this just be an 'exuberant' rim ?

[ASPaulding]

Originally Posted by fernando

Jim, definitely i am not such a connoisseur; once things are not explicit, i am completely lost .
To say this example does not fall (to me) within the regular range. I would not know how to explain the atypicaly (curve) tapering shape (certainly not due to over sharpening) and that array of digits.vBoth these and what appears to be a mark (?) deserve better pictures, for a possible better diagnosis attempt. Maybe ASPaulding can do that for us ?
The 'knob' with which the knuckle guard joins the pommel, may we call it atypical ?
I have never heard of a detail such as faux rompepuntas; could this just be an 'exuberant' rim ?

Hopefully this may help.

[ASPaulding]

A few more of the marks.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

Jim, definitely i am not such a connoisseur; once things are not explicit, i am completely lost .
To say this example does not fall (to me) within the regular range. I would not know how to explain the atypicaly (curve) tapering shape (certainly not due to over sharpening) and that array of digits.vBoth these and what appears to be a mark (?) deserve better pictures, for a possible better diagnosis attempt. Maybe ASPaulding can do that for us ?
The 'knob' with which the knuckle guard joins the pommel, may we call it atypical ?
I have never heard of a detail such as faux rompepuntas; could this just be an 'exuberant' rim ?

Fernando, you are always too modest, I know you too well over these many years, and know how many of these you have handled. I know you typically step aside to allow more free flowing observation from members to facilitate discussion.
Conversely I usually blast in, but pretty much expect much of my observation or theory to be corrected or elucidated, as actually I hope for. It is how I (we) learn .
For example, the more I look at this, I think my training blade idea is not right, but the numbering at the forte is certainly known on Solingen trade blades of 19th c. This is not something normally seen on any sort of rapier or other blade of the period intended for this rapier. The marking(s) or simply too defaced for any accurate assessment.
Such defacement has many causes/reasons mostly to obliterate the identification of a mark or sometimes some symbolic removal, the numbers are irrelevant in that regard as they are simply administrative or inventory.

The 'knob' or widening at end of knuckle guard is correct for rapiers, and the shape concurs with the quillon terminals, another plus.

While the pommel seems latter 18th c. I cannot say it might not be earlier.

On the 'rim'.....the exuberance was all mine , and the 'rompepuntas' (folded over lip on cup of this form) was open, not solid on period examples of 17th c.
Things began changing of course as this cuphilt style began becoming an arming type sword (which this is) in the 18th century, perhaps even earlier in less metropolitan settings, and cup element became solid cast. In many colonial types it is absent altogether.

It seems this blade has been as observed, shortened as this dramatic reduction to sharp point is unusual on these lenticular type blades IMO.

With the grip, obviously restoration work, but perhaps cast? with usual turks heads absent. Rust removal simply WD40, as always just stabilizing and cleaning minimally as required.