'Rose' Mark on the spine of Solingen blades

[Radboud]

The rest of my Solingen-made blades are from the British side of my collection (I'm excluding the smallswords as they don't have spines and one spadroon with a double-edged blade) and were imported by J J Runkel. They are interesting because they show a uniformity of iconography and variations in the signature.

1788 Pattern light cavalry troopers sword

This sword would have been imported as a complete sword by Runkel, it has an ordinance board inspection stamp, and even though the blade is engraved it would have been 'bare' of blue or gilt. These are a good example of how the craftsmen in Solingen were able turn out blades, that a trooper sword would be decorated in this manner.



Cartouch, ordinance board stamp and talismanic decorations


R. Sohlingen
Note the spelling of Solingen with an h, this appears to have changed around the turn of the century.


Horse Head officers sabre by Archer of Dublin
Note the straight termination of the blueing. The blade is engraved with GR on one side and the pre-1801 coat of arms. Other decorations are fairly typical of Solingen's work.


Cartouche


J.J: Runkel. Solingen


1786 Style Infantry Officers sword
This is a 1780-1790s style infantry officer sword with a Runkel-supplied blade. The blue and gilt are missing, but it has the GR and post-1801 coat of arms.



Cartouche


J: J: Runkel Solingen