Wow. Real silver. I guess that would make for a beautiful piece of artwork for a wealthy gentleman of the times to carry on his hip. But would a silver hilted piece like this be at all practical for a weapon? I would think that the hilt would have a lot of extra mass as compared to a steel hilt that offered the same protection. Of course, I suppose that such a wealthy gentleman would let his bodyguards do his fighting for him.

And, by the way, I need to add my inadequate complement to Nathan's new piece. What a beauty.

I have been bitten by the basket hilts bug. The bite is itching, and I think that the resulting infection may be incurable! ...and expensive.

That's awesome Nathan! Your collection of custom reproductions is very impressive & very unique.:cool: ( ElJay Erickson-Germanic Basket-Hilt, SW11 -Erik Stevenson- Sinclair Backsword, Floral & Venetian Side swords, Schiavona, Hand and a Half -Vince Evans- Lowland Hilt)

Does anyone have any pictures of an SW11 with the quillons still intact :?: I've never seen one.

My dear God! That's beautyful... You make me so envious...

-Henrik

Here is another example of a basket-hilt with SW11 influence, complete with quillons. (Mac, is this one of your scans? I do not have any information on it.)







(scan by Thomas McDonald)

Hi Stephen

Yes, Eljay sent me that pic .... and I quote " Very interesting! Late 15 - early 1600's. The pommel, grip and blade are all ca.1800."

Eljay went on to say .... "Phillip's Auctions in 1985 had one of these with the quillons removed, but with original pommel & blade. Blade was a muti-fullered backsword, the pommel was large spherical, and made of two halves brazed together".

Vince sent me a picture of it from his catalogue (as Eljays was buried in storage)

[ Linked Image ]

Mac

As long as we're doing SW11 variants, heres' a later one from about 1620. This one never had quillons, is fairly large with a grip length of a bit over 4", and is of fairly light construction.

--ElJay

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And here is another sword of similar form, circa 1575.

This one is English and is mounted to a flamboyant blade which has a distinct central rib down its center. The grip is rayskin with turk's heads of silver. Notice the screws on the globular pommel just like on SW11.

[ Linked Image ]
Click for larger version

Hi Nathan

The guards on this one are not secured to the pommel, as they are free floating (no screws, etc!)
The capstan is a nut that screws to the tang,though !

Mac

Nathan Robinson wrote:

And here is another sword of similar form, circa 1575. This one is English and is mounted to a flamboyant blade which has a distinct central rib down its center. The grip is rayskin with turk's heads of silver. Notice the screws on the globular pommel just like on SW11.

Hi Nathan,
The grip on the one I posted is half rotted away, but both turk's heads have survived (well, I think they're original), and a former owner just pushed one up on the grip so it wouldn't hang loose. Makes the whole thing look wierd doesn't it!

--ElJay