A double handed sword

francantolin · 30th September 2022, 06:57 PM

Hello,

Sorry on avance for purists,

I had found the brown rusty patina too homogenuous and ''looking a little fake''
so I had three hours free time and could not resist to sand it with 1000 grain sandpaper /WD40...

For me, really better like that !

Blade shows old black rust spots
( and the end of the tip would be a little longer initially...)

francantolin · 30th September 2022, 07:21 PM

Last

NeilUK · 2nd October 2022, 12:29 AM

That's quite a good-looking sword you have there. You are right that its size and weight suggest that it is a parade sword as combat two-handers tend to be 150-160cm in length and nearer 2.5kg in weight. Is it genuine late 16th century? It looks to be well made, perhaps with a replacement grip and pommel. Overall my impression from both the crossguard and the blade is that it is a good replica, 19th or even 20th century. If you bought it as a replica then you have done all right.
Neil

francantolin · 2nd October 2022, 05:57 AM

Thank you Neil for your reply,
It was sold as a :
18th/19th replica of a 16th swiss double handed sword.
Low starting price, the opportunity to have one of these and not a cold steel replica...

Usually, it's a serious action house,
So, where are the 18th parts ?

The pommel and blade seemed old/ ok to me
( maybe naìve 18/19th century trusting ...)

During the same session, they were selling two other pieces sold as ''16 century style double handed swords'' without even the mention ''18/19th century'' for one and written '' probably 18/19 th century '' for the other one.
Starting price: 1500 € ... ( weight 3600 kg and +/- same dimensions ...)

The starting price for ''my'' sword was low
Often they make tender bidding system. ( main auction )
swords starting 300€ and ending 4000...
and sometimes unsold...

francantolin · 2nd October 2022, 09:41 AM

Happy to have it after little work...

A last question for specialists please :
Why did bladesmiths make sharp edges for reproductions or parade swords ?
Really, this one is one of the sharpest sword I have...

For the ''old'' pommel , I found this look like on an old sword from a museum in Vienna.

For the blade: I know that few years in soil car turn all rusty but I don't think the blade is 20 century with this black rust patina.

francantolin · 2nd October 2022, 10:36 AM

Last one for the tip/blade structure.
Kind regards

NeilUK · 6th October 2022, 12:19 AM

OK, I'll go along with the pommel, though that shape is unusual on 2-handers, and the pommel is the element most often replaced when a sword is being restored. As for the sharpness - a good repro has to be sharp otherwise it's not a good repro! I still feel that this is a repro, but a good one, and if I'm wrong then you have an even better bargain.
Neil

30th September 2022, 06:57 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Hello, Sorry on avance for purists, I had found the brown rusty patina too homogenuous and ''looking a little fake'' so I had three hours free time and could not resist to sand it with 1000 grain sandpaper /WD40... For me, really better like that ! Blade shows old black rust spots ( and the end of the tip would be a little longer initially...) Attached Images

30th September 2022, 07:21 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Last Attached Images

2nd October 2022, 09:41 AM	#5
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Happy to have it after little work... A last question for specialists please : Why did bladesmiths make sharp edges for reproductions or parade swords ? Really, this one is one of the sharpest sword I have... For the ''old'' pommel , I found this look like on an old sword from a museum in Vienna. For the blade: I know that few years in soil car turn all rusty but I don't think the blade is 20 century with this black rust patina. Attached Images

2nd October 2022, 10:36 AM	#6
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Last one for the tip/blade structure. Kind regards Attached Images

2nd October 2022, 12:29 AM	#3
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 126	That's quite a good-looking sword you have there. You are right that its size and weight suggest that it is a parade sword as combat two-handers tend to be 150-160cm in length and nearer 2.5kg in weight. Is it genuine late 16th century? It looks to be well made, perhaps with a replacement grip and pommel. Overall my impression from both the crossguard and the blade is that it is a good replica, 19th or even 20th century. If you bought it as a replica then you have done all right. Neil

2nd October 2022, 05:57 AM	#4
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Thank you Neil for your reply, It was sold as a : 18th/19th replica of a 16th swiss double handed sword. Low starting price, the opportunity to have one of these and not a cold steel replica... Usually, it's a serious action house, So, where are the 18th parts ? The pommel and blade seemed old/ ok to me ( maybe naìve 18/19th century trusting ...) During the same session, they were selling two other pieces sold as ''16 century style double handed swords'' without even the mention ''18/19th century'' for one and written '' probably 18/19 th century '' for the other one. Starting price: 1500 € ... ( weight 3600 kg and +/- same dimensions ...) The starting price for ''my'' sword was low Often they make tender bidding system. ( main auction ) swords starting 300€ and ending 4000... and sometimes unsold...

6th October 2022, 12:19 AM	#7
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 126	OK, I'll go along with the pommel, though that shape is unusual on 2-handers, and the pommel is the element most often replaced when a sword is being restored. As for the sharpness - a good repro has to be sharp otherwise it's not a good repro! I still feel that this is a repro, but a good one, and if I'm wrong then you have an even better bargain. Neil