[Nathan Robinson]

This is a pretty interesting example of the craftsmanship and artistry that was not only possible in the early 17th century, but also a glimpse into the type of ornamentation that was valued then.

This example is a rapier and accompanying dagger that both feature a working clock in their pommels!

I'm hoping there are some German members out there that would be willing to translate the German descriptive text or a person who's versed in clocks and watches to shed insight on that element.

Rapier and Dagger, Saxony, 1610





Click any photograph to see the higher-resolution detailed version

[Alex Yeoh]

what an extraordinary piece, I've never seen anything like it.

I see what appears to be a balance wheel, but without a balance spring (3rd pic, circular wheel on the left), and without a pallet fork

the circular wheel at the bottom appears to be the main spring, and appears to be wound by a crown which I'm guessing is the knob at the top of the pommel, which turns the top-most wheel.

I would guess that this sort of watch only told time by the hour, without displaying minutes or seconds because it was too inaccurate to do so.

The wheel at the top right is a bit of a mystery, since theres a few merged teeth at the top, which would seem to get stuck in the top-most wheel. Usually with date mechanisms, teeth would be MISSING, not merged, but I definitely know this watch does not have any complications whatsoever. Perhaps the merged teeth are to stop the winding beyond a certain point? Usually hand-wound watches are not stopped by this method.

this predates anything I'm familiar with, so these are just guesses. Any pics of the watch face?

[Gordon Frye]

Wow, nifty artifacts. I guess all that clockwork is to ensure that you're always on time for your duels...

Gordon

[Gabriel Lebec]

Are many of the dagger blade types from Saxony in that time period somewhat similar to each other? Because the few that I've seen or seen photos of have looked similar and IMHO gorgeous in their lines.

Alright, I have to admit that clockwork is pretty beautiful and fascinating on its own, but I probably would have never thought to combine it with swords - neat (though funky) idea! The detail work here appears brilliant, even if the sword mounts as a whole don't appeal to my tastes...

[Alina Boyden]

It is amazing how much of that description I can understand having only had 6 weeks of german! That is an amazingly ornate sword. I would never have though to stick eine Uhr in den Knaufen.

[Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom]

That are so very german all over it, super schön uhrwerk,
good reason to have the sword with you out

when i read it with my octoberfest german, there are a bell in that sword pommel to, nice

[James A. Vargscarr]

Bizarre. It's like a classy precursor to those hiking boots one sees with a compass in the heel! I wonder how much use the sword saw, and whether the clockwork was easily damaged through the shocks incurred when fencing...

You know, the more I look at it, the less odd it seems. And, as has been noted by others, the quality of the craftsmanship is undeniable. It would certainly provide a talking point for a budding 17th Century socialite.

"Oh this? Why, it's my pommel watch of course. All of the stylish gentlemen are wearing them..."

[Nathan Robinson]

[Alina Boyden]

[Mathias B.]

[David R. Glier]

I showed this to a few friends. After the "Oooh"s and "Ah"s were done, somebody said "Cool! You could put a frag-counter in your sword!"

I think I'm showing my age.

[Nathan Robinson]

[Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom]

[Kenneth Enroth]

Perhaps the rapier shows the hour and the dagger shows the minute?

[Mathias B.]

So here is part one (the part about the Rapier):

[Allen W]

I realise this is extremely late but some words I couldn't translate and a very few others seem to contradict the pics. I have at last given up and will post what I have.

182b Dagger with Clock
Blade with rhomboidal cross-section; central ridge reaching nearly to the point; decorative, pierced fuller, a small area stamped with the initials <<W.B.>>Brass vessel, gilded and richly engraved. S-shaped quillons with oval parrying ring. Longitudinally shaped wooden grip with one smooth band alternating for every two of twisted gilt and copper wire terminating in two turk's-heads.
The oval pommel with screw shaped small pommel opposite/contrary to the clock; on the front of the clock is a gilded brass face with a tempered, blued, and complex shaped hour hand; the dial has a ring with the roman numerals I-XII; constant power transfer from the spring through the Stackfreed is achieved, Unrast with adjustable pins, the piece over the Ruckplatine(probably backplate) is stamped with the mark of Tobias Reichel. Front and back are vaulted through with a hinged cover of gilded brass. The cover is engraved with a bird and vines.
Overall length: 31.5cm, Blade length: 20cm, Blade width at false edge: 1.7cm, Weight: 200g
Measurements of the clock: Height: 27mm, Width: 23.5mm, Depth: 20mm
Dagger sheath: wood with black leather wrap; the gilded brass rechtige(this word generally means right or correct but I don't understand its place in this sentence) locket on the front of which are engraved vines and a bird beating its wings. Vines are also engraved on the back with Trageose. The chape is a downward pointing cone of gilded brass with spherical point engraved with a bird, an owl, and two vines.

The rest seems to be inventory information which I began to translate but then decided wasn't relevant to the set or of interest to anyone.[/i]

[Greyson Brown]

I'm not much of a rapier guy, but I need one of those to go with my watch cuff-links

That is pretty interesting. Thanks for the pictures, translation, and intersting discussion.

-Grey

[Nathan Robinson]

Thank you so much, Allen. That adds a lot.

[Mathias B.]

[Nathan Robinson]

I dug up some more photos of the inner mechanisms and watch faces of these unique pieces:



Click any photograph to see the higher-resolution detailed version