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

Jim McDougall · 7th September 2022, 05:06 PM

It truly is a puzzle, and the only comparison I can think of is with some blades that were found on South American swords using 'blanks' from Solingen that had numeric sequences on the blade, at the forte in this manner. These were however with three numbers if I recall, but there were two swords with the same type blade and same number. This led me to believe these were either a contract lot or blade type (?) used administratively by the producer of the blades, and these seem to have been 19th c. but hard to say period.
I wish I could find the examples, I'll keep looking.

Whatever the case, Solingen was of course primary provider for blades and swords through 19th century into South American regions, where Portuguese colonial occupation had prevailed, thus many of these swords likely remained as well.

7th September 2022, 05:06 PM	#20
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,295	It truly is a puzzle, and the only comparison I can think of is with some blades that were found on South American swords using 'blanks' from Solingen that had numeric sequences on the blade, at the forte in this manner. These were however with three numbers if I recall, but there were two swords with the same type blade and same number. This led me to believe these were either a contract lot or blade type (?) used administratively by the producer of the blades, and these seem to have been 19th c. but hard to say period. I wish I could find the examples, I'll keep looking. Whatever the case, Solingen was of course primary provider for blades and swords through 19th century into South American regions, where Portuguese colonial occupation had prevailed, thus many of these swords likely remained as well.