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1st March 2012, 11:11 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 87
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Many thanks for your comments.
Im having to clear out a few other items to keep this one though!! |
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1st March 2012, 11:43 PM
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#2 | |
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Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,281
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Quote:
A worthy exchange I would say!!!  These are very much my dream swords as well, and quite honestly the few examples I have seen of this 17th century form were in pretty rough shape. The hilt style conforms to examples C4 and C4a ("British Basket Hilted Swords" Dr. Cyril Mazansky, 2005, p.71) and the disc as well as the connecting 'S' shape are distinctive features of these 'ribbon hilts'. It seems these typically will date in 1670s-1690s, and the Solingen blade form is characteristic with central triple fullers and short parallel fullers at either side. In most cases, these blades seem to carry the familiar 'ANDREA FERARA' wording, so this one is of course quite interesting. This particular name does not occur in any of the regularly consulted references, however it seems to me that German surnames can vary considerably within the same family group as well of course as the spellings. This blade seems an outstanding example of the 'Grosse Schotten' type blades, distinctly produced by Solingen makers for thier Scottish clients, as large formidable broadswords for the Scots. I personally have always considered the 'Andrea Ferara' as a kind of 'brand' labeling this style rather than being intended to spuriously represent a maker. This is discussed in the 'trademarks ' thread. It would seem quite reasonable for a maker to use his name in place of this typically used term, and it would be great if we could find some record of him to better establish period for the sword. While the sword itself is in accord with the forementioned period, it seems to me that the grip is more in the style of later British hilts using rayskin or fishskin with Turks heads and wire wrap. While some British 'mortuary' swords of the 17th century period seem to have had these type grips, most Scottish hilts used leather grips. It is my view that this sword may well have been refurbished for an officer in a Highland regiment later in the 18th century, or of course remains the possibility of even later refurbishing. In any case the blade and hilt seem homogenous. This is a beautiful example, and without a doubt with a profound history which piques my own Highland ancestry!! and a Drambuie salute to this proud Scottish warrior!!! Nicely done, and thank you so much for sharing it here, All the best, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 2nd March 2012 at 01:09 AM. |
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2nd March 2012, 04:04 AM
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#3 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,280
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What a great piece and in prime condition!
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2nd March 2012, 01:24 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Timisoara, Romania
Posts: 32
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the name of the maker seems to be PETER KNAUFF or KNAUFE
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31st December 2013, 08:31 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1
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Peter K.....???
Well, have lurked for years and this forum, never got to signing up. Then, on a search I found this post.
My Swiss ancestors were from Kanton Zurich. Neff, Nave, Knave, Naff...list goes on and on. All related by DNA. There are about 13 different branches of them! So, good luck! And does not mean your guy is one of my guys. Lutherans, so church records are pretty good till about 1500 or so. Here in America they were blacksmiths. Landed in America early, prior to 1740. Also very heavily connected to...Scottish side of my family [MacKay - Lord Reay and Middleton. Yes, yes. "Those" Middleton.] Both by marriage and business contacts. Dutch East India Co. My Scottish side were merchants that were known to import from Scotland and Germany to what would become America. Based out of Port Royal, Boston, Rhode Island, Norfolk, VA and Charleston, SC. Also had folks at Darien, GA. The big Scottish settlement. Hard to tell who he is. I do not have him in our records. But German and Swiss blacksmiths along with cannoniers [sp?] were exempt from many "state" regulations due to their strategic trade. Anyway... We also had gunsmiths from Scotland into Charleston, SC in the family prior to 1720. So, just plain hard to tell. Shame you could not get some more history from the previous owner to narrow the search? Is it possible a Germanic bladesmith was connected to a Scottish firm? Yupper, sure enough! |
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1st January 2014, 02:34 PM
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#6 |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 411
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Is that just a scroll, or an "S" in the hilt?
Regards Richard |
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1st January 2014, 02:52 PM
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#7 | |
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(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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Hybrid Mode
