English Basket Hilt

[Triarii]

Hi,

I've got this early English basket hilt aka 'Irish Hilt' and I'm trying to decipher the maker on the blade, who's name is in the middle fuller. Anyone heard of the maker please?

The lines in the fullers read;
Soli Deo Gloria ("Glory to God alone", one of the Protestant Five Solae)

WILHELM TESCHE ZVNEOMEN

Me Fecit Solingen (Solingen made me)

[fernando]

WILHELM TESCHE, yes. You may use the Search button to find further info on him .

[fernando]

And by the way,Triarii; can you show us the whole sword ?

[Jim McDougall]

Absolutely, we need to see the entire sword. Blades were used in many cases almost randomly in many forms of hilts so identifying markings etc on blades., context is important.

The reference to 'Irish' hilt is interesting as this was a term used collectively for basket hilt swords in Great Britain until early 18th century, though there were certain forms which were indeed distinctively 'Irish' in some cases.

Wilhelm Tesch was a Solingen maker in early years of 17th century, and one of about four who were related. It appears he lived in an area in the north of Solingen which was part of the Wirsberg (Weyersberg) estate and the Tesch's often incorporated into their signatures (Mann, 1962).

Outstanding early blade and looking forward to the sword overall.

[Triarii]

Thanks all.
Here's the whole sword. I've realised that 'zutnomen' is German for 'to be attributed' so the 'zuntomen' is a stamping typo or older spelling.

Interestingly, Wilhelm Tesche the elder was active 1590 to 1625 and the younger from 1640 to 1676.

[fernando]

Beautiful .