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Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional
Location: Oxford, England Joined: 03 Apr 2008
Posts: 404
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 Posted: Thu 19 Feb, 2015 7:34 pm Post subject: Late 16th Cent Italian Short Sword |
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Hello all,
I recently purchased a few original sixteenth and seventeenth century swords to add to my own collection (I am more than happy to share details of the others, if there is interest). I am particularly curious about one of them, and they are all a bit outside my field of study.
The sword is similar to a left handed dagger one might use in conjunction with a rapier, but overall with larger proportions. The quillons are much larger more substantial, and the weapon is made distinctly thicker and more swordlike (overall length 26" and with a blade length of about 21"), with a slightly rounded/spatulate point.
The blade is too narrow to be a cinquedea, but overall I suppose it would fill a similar role. How would you define this weapon? I am at a loss. Its a short sword style unique to Italy, for this period, but how does one think it would be used? In conjunction to some sort of target/buckler? Its not a sword type in FIore or Vadi.
(note the full-length shot is the last photo posted here)
Cheers!
Hadrian
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Historia magistra vitae est
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Don Stanko
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| Posted: Fri 20 Feb, 2015 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Antique Weapon Store? Greg is a good guy and he has a pretty nice inventory. I'm unfamiliar with that weapon type, I'll look through a few books tonight. It's similar to a 16th century side sword I've seen before. As for the rounded tip, I don't believe it started out that way. I'm inclined to think that the tip was worn down over time.
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Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional
Location: Oxford, England Joined: 03 Apr 2008
Posts: 404
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| Posted: Sat 21 Feb, 2015 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, ordered from Greg.
My thoughts on the tip are the same, though I have yet to see the sword in person. I am hoping someone with an interest in 16th century sword types has seen similar in a painting/etching/wood cut... or a similar weapon in a museum. A quick look through my photos didn't reveal anything similar. It is quite short by comparison to most arming/side swords I've seen. Though definitely still longer than most daggers.
Cheers!
Historia magistra vitae est
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Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional
Location: Oxford, England Joined: 03 Apr 2008
Posts: 404
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| Posted: Sat 21 Feb, 2015 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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It seems quite similar to this sword in the Wallace Collection. I guess I would define it as an arming sword. Anyone have any period artwork?
Cheers!
Historia magistra vitae est
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Gabriele Becattini
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| Posted: Sun 22 Feb, 2015 5:01 am Post subject: |
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this form of sword is tipically noth italian, but i have Always seen much longer blades on them. probably your has been broken-shortened?
it is a common sight in late XVIth - XVIIth century paintings, unfortunately i have just lost my data base of images, so i'm not able to post pictures,
i believe that we can classify it as a kind of italian "katzbalger" , a common choice for a pikeman or arquebusier.
it is a very nice example indeed Hadrian
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This is a standard topic