English Civil War Rapier -- myArmoury.com

Martin Buckley · Posted: Thu 27 Feb, 2020 12:00 pm Post subject: English Civil War Rapier

Thought I’d share these. I recently purchased my first original piece, a 1640’s English Rapier with a blade by Tomas de Aiala. Needless to say, I’m absolutely thrilled with the little beaut. I’ll attach some images, I hope you enjoy.

Daniel Parry · Posted: Thu 27 Feb, 2020 1:17 pm Post subject:

Nice. I like that style of hilt, and the boat hilt form of the guard. And congratulations. First pieces are always special.

Dimensions ? You can join in the provision of the dimension stats we were talking about on the other thread.

Daniel Parry · Posted: Thu 27 Feb, 2020 1:23 pm Post subject:

It's a Norman type 91 variant without a forward quillon isn't it.

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Thu 27 Feb, 2020 2:12 pm Post subject:

Congrats Martin,
That looks a beaut,
Description and measures would be very welcome,
very nice, Cool

Martin Buckley · Posted: Thu 27 Feb, 2020 2:14 pm Post subject:

Here we go.

An English Civil War Period Military Rapier mounted with a stiff, tapering, lenticular section blade of 33 inches in length with a pronounced deep central fuller extending from the hilt either side. The fuller has the remains of the letters AIALA with crosses and dots each side. A foul anchor mark is present beyond the fuller each side. The overall length of the rapier is just over 40 inches (102 cm).

The curved shell guard is chiselled with arches, panels and scrolls with a central roundel to the front, strengthened with supporting scrolled guard bars with knops and a knuckle bow, the terminal of which is screwed into the front of the pommel. The whole shell of the guard is profusely pierced with dot designs and the outer edges are scalloped. The pommel is vertically fluted with a double integral button.

For similar rapiers see Stuart C Mowbray, British Military Swords, Mowbray Publishers, 2013, pages 255, 256, 265 & 269.