Rapier ID

[werecow]

Is it me or does that say "MAMA"?

[SwordLover79]

I can assure you that the photos are of the two sides of the blade. They do look identical. In addition to the symbols/characters inside the fullers, there are small punched or engraved arrow or cross shapes at the end of each fuller.

[fernando]

SwordLover, time for you to have a look in the ricasso, (inside the hilt 'basket') and check whether the CAINO personal marks are struck in there.



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[Jim McDougall]

Here are some entries from ""The Rapier and Small Sword 1400-1820"
AVB Norman, 1980.

Next from "Rapiers", Eric Valentine, 1968

Then from "The Smallsword in England, J.Aylward, 1945.

The Norman entry pretty much supports the English attribution.

The Valentine entry notes the strong connection between German and English of course, a very long standing relationship in weaponry.
By the same token, Italian influences were profoundly extended into Germany, and it would not be surprising to see German work spuriously imitating these Brescian conventions.

The Aylward entry is shown to illustrate the English revival of older style in the manner often followed in their admiration for neo classicism.
This small sword has the elaborate ajoure imitation of bead work c. 1775 which was essentially the sunset of the small sword, but highly regarded in the gentry and courts.

These just offer some possibilities for the overall styling of this rapier.
On the ricasso area of the blade it is often seen with various makers marks and CAINO, sometimes a spurious Toledo guild mark O and T


Sir James Mann (Wallace Coll. 1962, various entries) describes numerous rapiers, all with CAINO blades, various marks and typically dated c.1610 (one as early as 1580) on Flemish, German hilts, one on a Spanish cuphilt c. 1625.
The letter combinations are the same sequencing, using various letters, often reversed on the opposing blade face.
i.e. RSNRSNRSND , one side SRNSRNSRND other. The same three letters repeated three times then with a separate terminating letter.

Other combinations EBCEBCEBC B, then ECBECBECB E note in this case terminating letter is different. this one was on an German hilt, the blade shown as Milanese (Brescian) but with notes of these similar hilts being English 1580-1610 as well.

[werecow]

I don't have a working scanner atm but hilt 85 on page 158 of "The Rapier and Small Sword" (dated 1625-1640) is somewhat similar (although it lacks the quillons). Hilt 88 has fewer rings around the plates (but it has the quillons). This shape is deeper, more like that of a Spanish cuphilt but executed in cavalier hilt style (with the rings linked by the curled cross branching structures). An interesting mix.

EDIT: Oh, right, I have a phone with a camera! Picture added. Not sure why it's sideways as the orientation is normal on my PC.

[SwordLover79]

Fernando: I included close-up photos of the marks on the ricasso in the first group of pix. Those photos were taken with a macro lens with the best lighting I could provide. Short of disassembling the sword, I reached my photographic limits. However, the symbols on the blade are actually quite clear and consistent under magnification. I drew the symbols and added a photo if that helps.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by SwordLover79

Fernando: I included close-up photos of the marks on the ricasso in the first group of pix....

So sorry for having overlooked that. Yet very hard to relate such marks in the ricasso with those known to be Caino's ... i guess .

[SwordLover79]

my example looks very similar to the English Hilt Type B described by Oakschott in "European Weapons and Armour from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution", 1980 Plate 13