Not being a real rapier man, I'm not sure the exact classification of this blade and hilt. However it's extraordinarily pretty and thought it worth the photos.

Anyone know any more about it (still have to dig up the infocard shot) just from looking at it?

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[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2479210512_545ec13538.jpg?v=0

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Appears to be a matching dagger/main gauche.

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Oooh, wait until Patrick Barta takes a stab at that one!

I wonder if the grip is original. It's square (or rectangular) in shape, while the pommel is rounded. It looks added on after-the-fact.

Hmm different enamel technique too!

Doesn't match up at the pommel interface.

Still real nice :eek: work

Lawrence

Wow,
That is a fantastic specimen. It is fairly rare to see that kind of enamel work on a European sword, correct?

I've seen dozens and dozens of rapiers and other weapons from that period and this is the first I can recall with anything like this particular example. Others will be engraved, chased, etc in various other metals but I can't ever remember seeing one quite like this one.

Hi B. Fulton,

I don't know where to find the pictures on the net but, there is the Golden Rapier of Maximilian II at Vienna, the Sword of '1571' by Hans Reimer of Munich and one atributed to Hortuno de Aguirre, Toledo.

http://www.khm.at/system2E.html?/staticE/page464.html

It was a fashion from 1550's to the 1570's at least it seems, armour and firearms etc were also done like this.

Hope this helps.

Lawrence

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Maximilian II