| Author |
Message |
|
Carl Massaro
|
 Posted: Tue 22 Mar, 2011 3:52 pm Post subject: Help identify this Spanish bilbo |
 |
|
I purchased it at the Baltimore auction. Is it a 1728?
All I can say is that everything is as tight as a drum, and it looks to have never been taken apart. The peen is consistent with the rest of the pommel.
Is the "NMN" on the blade a maker?
|
|
  |
 |
|
E.B. Erickson
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2011 7:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Carl,
Interesting sword. I'm inclined to think that it may not be Spanish, as it has a very long grip for a Spanish product, and the pommel isn't quite flattened enough. It could be Italian, or perhaps a custom job for a Spanish officer, but I don't think it's a 1728 military bilbo.
Can't help with the NMN.
What is that mark below the NMN?
--ElJay
PS: maybe we'll meet up at Russ' place again sometime!
|
|
 |
|
|
Marc Bloom
Location: Pittsburgh, PA Joined: 22 Feb 2011
Posts: 26
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2011 9:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
Maybe the owner had 6 fingers on his hand 
Seriously, the marks could be an abreviation for a religous phrase. How's the balance on that sword, it looks sweet.
|
|
 |
|
|
Carl Massaro
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2011 3:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| E.B. Erickson wrote: | Hi Carl,
Interesting sword. I'm inclined to think that it may not be Spanish, as it has a very long grip for a Spanish product, and the pommel isn't quite flattened enough. It could be Italian, or perhaps a custom job for a Spanish officer, but I don't think it's a 1728 military bilbo.
Can't help with the NMN.
What is that mark below the NMN?
--ElJay
PS: maybe we'll meet up at Russ' place again sometime! |
Hello Eljay!
Thank you for your reply. Thangle of the sword in the image gives the appearance of a shorter blade and a rounder pommel. It is an illusion. The sword looks much more in proportion in real life.
I am told that these swords are commonly associated with wire grips with and ribs metal. Mine has a very old leather grip. The grip alone from metal ring to metal ring, without the pommel, is 3.75 inches long. As for the knucklebow, it seems to be uniform in shape with no hammer marks, heat marks or deformations. The pommel shape, peen, and overall grip length seem to me to be identical to the antique 1728 on top in the pic:
Note that I emphasized "overall" grip length, because the 1728 in the above pic has a neck on the pommel that makes up for the shorter grip. Mine seems to have the same exact pommel, but without the neck, hence the longer grip. Overall, from quillons to pommel, both sword grips look to me to be about the same in length. What do you think?
I was told that the "NMN" is a religious invocation, "Nomen Omnipotentis Nomen" or something similar.
The sword is as sturdy as any sword I have held. As a classical and historical fencer, I can tell you that the sword is definitely functional in weight and balance. Everything is tight and in place. The age of the foxing and patina on the guard and pommel are consitent with its supposed age, and it seems the peen matches it perfectly, for what that is worth.
As you're an extremely skilled metalworker and artisan, I would love your opinion on the peen...
That was a fun time at Russ's place! Once again, I apologize for being extremely sleep deprived and out of it at the time! In fact, I saw Russ this weekend at the Baltimore show. He taught me a lot. I hope to see you at his place again one day!
Marc,
| Quote: | Maybe the owner had 6 fingers on his hand
|
Haha! As for the measurements, the sword weighs 2 lbs, 3oz, and balances at exactly 3 inches from the shell guards. The blade is 30.5 inches from the top of the guard and about 32.5" if you include the ricasso, measured from the quillons to the point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carl Massaro
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here are some better pics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum
|
This is a standard topic