[Douglas A.]

This is the third sword I obtained in a larger mix of items . I have obtained awesome advice and assistance from the myArmoury readers so here goes again. I obtained an antique rapier with a double fullered blade. One side of the hilt is flat (see jpeg) the other has a robust and well designed crab claw like hilt and handguard. The rapier is very well crafted and in lovely condition. It has a heft to it, but feels light for it is very well balanced. The blade is 33.6 Inches (85.3) Centimeters long and the rapier is just over 40.5 inches long (103.1cms). There are no armoury or makers marks on this. Can any rapier pros provide information regarding this style, where it may be from (I am guessing Italy) or any other details. It is a fine sword and I would prefer to be as accurate as possible when discussing it.

jpegs are at

http://usera.imagecave.com/dash321/ash1/

thanks very much for looking and providing any insight you can
doug

[E.B. Erickson]

Hi Doug,
Now that's an oddball hilt! So odd that it may indeed be Italian ca.1630. The blade type is right for Italian light broadswords (I wouldn't call what you've got a rapier), and is similar to what you find on the more usual crabclaw broadswords. Having rings, etc..only on the right side of the hilt is also an Italian design feature.

However, you may have a Victorian repro from the late 1800s as well. I say that because although the overall design fits Italy, there's just something about the "feel" of the photos of the sword that says Vic to me.

Without actually holding it, I'm not sure which it is! Oh well, hope this has been a little bit helpful.

--ElJay

[Don Stanko]

I would say Victorian with about 90% conviction. The clam shell design was popular at that time period. Not to mention that swords were often times made so that they would hang nicely against a wall. The big question is who made it, I know of a few well known victorian metalsmiths that created work that nice, worth quite a bit too.

Don

[Douglas A.]

This is great info!!....am travelling on a hectic sked now,so more comments later, but this is exactly how all of us learn more. Other comments or information on 19th century makers would be appreciated. This sword supposedly came out of Germany, but I am trying to track that down. Stories and facts often differ.

thanks again

[Jeff Ross]

There is an example in the Kienbusch collection that has some similar elements in the hilt, including the fluted pommel. Sorry, but I don't have any notes on its date or place of origin.

Jeff