Again, I do not believe this is fake..after reading the article here, this has nice balance and feels solid in your hands:

I love this piece, the tip is slightly bent, but what a feeling when it's in your hands.

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap00.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap01.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap02.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap1.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap2.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap3.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap4.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap5.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap6.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap7.jpg

http://www.certifiedcoins.com/identify/rap8.jpg

Thanks,

Joel

Joel, i'm no sword expert but it looks like an early smallsword maybe late 17th century . It looks real enough to my eye
but there are folks with more expertise here that can probably give you a better feel for it .

Joel,
That is a beautiful piece, and if it's a fake, it's a VERY nice fake.

How long's the blade, and how much appr. does it weigh? It looks to me like a transitional rapier/smallsword, those that existed at the end of the 17th century and into to 18th. The designs look very English to me, though it's often hard to pinpoint that sort of thing.

Hello Bill,

If it's a short sword...it's a very long short sword: blad is approx 34" (from top of hilt to tip)

Weighs approx: 1 lb / .8 oz

Most of the weight is distributed to the handle, so it makes it very easy to use/maneuver. I have held fencing swords and this feels similar. Very light towards the end, but heavy at the hilt. Solid throughout, not loose.

Joel

Does appear to be a small-sword (date?) and a very nice one at that.

Stephen Fisher where are you? He'd be the man to have a better evaluation of this.

Hi Joel,
The smallsword is a specific type of duelling sword, most popular in the 18th century. A 34" blade sounds right. And while there's no way for me to be certain from photos, I think it looks too nice to be a fake. In fact, to make a modern repro as nice as what you have, it would possibly sell for fairly close to the same amount as an antique, making it not worth the trouble of trying to fake.

It's a beautiful piece, and if I had the money, I'd be very interested in purchasing it myself. Good luck!

And by the way, the reason I'd guessed it was a transitional sword was because the blade looked a little long, and the cross section is one I've seen on transitional blades before.

But now that you've described the weight and length, I'm more inclined to say it's not a transitional rapier, but a "full out" smallsword.

Hi Bill,

That's very interesting. I was mistaking "small-sword"...for "short sword", I guess that goes back to my D&D roots when I was younger. Pardon me for not reading correctly.

I should stop posting the word "fake", unless well known auctioneers have been duped, then I feel confident 90-95% of the items I have are genuine, if not 100%.

I just don't know the tell tale signs that master blacksmith's use in forgery. I don't believe any of the items I have were purchased for excessive amounts though. So, like you said, a waste of time to fake.

My brother-in-law makes chain mail and also has a website concerning armour and such, he said the same thing.

He spends hours and hours with the patterns, when he told me what he "guessed" would be a price for some of his pieces (he doesn't sell them), he then commented on how modern work can cost you plenty as well.

thank you.

Hi Joel,
That's a very decent sword! Whether one would call it a transitional rapier or a transitional smallsword is a coin toss! At any rate, it's mid to late 1600s. The grip may not be original, but it looks OK where it is.

I especially like the piercing and chiselling on the shells and rings/quillon block; above average quality from what you usually see!

--ElJay

Definitely a re-wrapped grip. I am sure of it. Not an uncommon feaure in these types of swords and does not significantly detract from value. Nice chisel features on the guard. Patina looks good.

Hi Joel,

Did you buy this sword?

Here are some pictures of the sword when it was auctioned on Ebay some time ago.

---

 Attachment: 66.46 KB



 Attachment: 106.6 KB
[ Download ]

Here is an example of a similar transitional rapier for you....

http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/4609.html
from Czerny's

Either way, it's a pretty piece of work.

[ Linked Image ]