This listing is marked SOLD and is no longer available
Motivated only by the desire to raise money for a project, I'm having to let these beautiful pieces go. I'm offering a matched set of Taza Rapier and Main Gauche (or more properly Viscaine dagger), generally called the Spanish Cup-Hilt Rapier. While they were carried throughout Europe they were de rigueur at the Spanish Court.
I had an idea and this time it worked: I ordered them in their "Antiqued" finish, which just means blackened, largely because I wanted the brown scabbards that come with the antiqued set. And then I lightly buffed the high surfaces, leaving the blacking down in the engraved patterns because I thought it would show more contrast than the "new" finish. And I was right. It came out looking rather well.
I also removed the red leather lining from the sail-guard of the Viscaine dagger, because I thought it looked tacky. They are in wooden scabbards covered with brown leather, with locket, chape and the dagger has a belt frog.
You need to know: these are sharps (!) I went after them with a ceramic sharpener. The edges are sharp, and though I didn't go all fanatic about it a swat on the wrist will take blood. The rapier blade is rebated for the first third of the blade, the rest has an "annoyance" edge.
However, the points of both weapons are like hypodermics. Stand by for a little pinch.
Here are the pictures. The first few are not in full daylight:
Now, what do I want for them? The lowest price I could find on the Internet for this set would be $424.90. However, to raise quick funds and because of we live in these austere economic times I'm going to ask $350 for the set. Of course I take paypal.
Last, I should state that I would consider a trade for a sword of similar period, but more edge-oriented in his application, perhaps a Cromwell sword.
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