Another sword stick ... with a real blade

fernando · 21st August 2006, 03:18 PM

Amazing how concealed weapons, even not in the noble sense of weapon, have also a field for curiosity. I have just learnt the "Dolon" was a sword hidden in a cane or riding crop, used mostly by assassins, in the Roman period. But i have already seen concealed blades that are no better than a tooth pick. I have just bought this piece, in which the stick could havbe been made just the other day, with a locking badly resolved, as so often seen. The only interesting thing is that, the fixing nails are not metalic nails, but wooden pegs, which demands some joiner knowledge. The fittings are brass, i can't tell the age.
However the blade is something quite more valuable, if i would say. It remains in its entire length, i can see its little forte hidden by the handle collar. It has a wide fuller along the first quarter, the other three a diamond section estoc.
This blade is 76 cm long, 15 mm wide and 8 mm thick, wich are measurements
that fall within the range of various sword civilian and miitary styles used in the 18th century, as i see in ( only ) my couple books. The inscription style fits well in that period, could be Godsaving King Dom José ( 1750-1777 ), as the following male King was already a bit out of date for the case ( 1820 ).
I wonder if that little extra punction is the blade maker's mark, as that would help precise its age.
kind regards

21st August 2006, 03:18 PM	#1
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,668	Another sword stick ... with a real blade Amazing how concealed weapons, even not in the noble sense of weapon, have also a field for curiosity. I have just learnt the "Dolon" was a sword hidden in a cane or riding crop, used mostly by assassins, in the Roman period. But i have already seen concealed blades that are no better than a tooth pick. I have just bought this piece, in which the stick could havbe been made just the other day, with a locking badly resolved, as so often seen. The only interesting thing is that, the fixing nails are not metalic nails, but wooden pegs, which demands some joiner knowledge. The fittings are brass, i can't tell the age. However the blade is something quite more valuable, if i would say. It remains in its entire length, i can see its little forte hidden by the handle collar. It has a wide fuller along the first quarter, the other three a diamond section estoc. This blade is 76 cm long, 15 mm wide and 8 mm thick, wich are measurements that fall within the range of various sword civilian and miitary styles used in the 18th century, as i see in ( only ) my couple books. The inscription style fits well in that period, could be Godsaving King Dom José ( 1750-1777 ), as the following male King was already a bit out of date for the case ( 1820 ). I wonder if that little extra punction is the blade maker's mark, as that would help precise its age. kind regards Attached Images