[Russ Thomas]

Hello Folks,

I have posted here a couple of pictures of an old rapier that I purchased in London some eight or nine years ago. Regrettably , it is not an original , I would suggest that it is probably about one hundrerd and sixty or so years old ? As you can see from the pictures it has suffered some ill treatment over the years. The bottom part of the guard is now riveted on the back of the quillons, one of the pas de ane rings has been bent upwards, and of course the grip has been rather badly rewired.
I propose to make a new grip with a multi wire, twisted wire covering ( I am not sure whether to make the grip itself twisted or square? ), together with some nice wire Turks heads. The quillon I will carefully straighten out, note the emphasis on the word carefully; the quillon is probably cast, so straightening it mayl be a nightmare! I may also make a scabbard for it, but that is not on my list of priorities at the present.
Now, my main question is this: The pommel. What are your thoughts about this pommel? Should I make a new one, more in keeping with the original style of rapier? Or should I perhaps 'pretty' this one up a bit and refit it, or just leave it as it is ? Half of me hates the pommel, and the other half of me says, well, yes it is ugly, but it is the original !
I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on this one please

Many thanks.

Regards,

Russ

[Russ Thomas]

Here is picture of the pommel from another angle. You can see why I think that it is so ugly !

Regards,

Russ

[Russ Thomas]

No one has got any great suggestions ??

Russ

[Christopher Gregg]

Russ, you're right - that pommel is pretty ugh! But on something else, it might be OK. What was someone thinking when they put the forward guard ring on the back side? I think this sword would look much better with a properly wrapped grip with Turks Heads and all, but a pommel more in line with the guard design would look even better. And move that guard back to the proper side! Good luck with this one - it'll be worth it when you're finished.