Construction: The construction of this sword throughout is superb. The shell guards are pierced and chiseled with a, grotesque bearded man’s face at the center surrounded with pierced spiral foliage patterns. A long tapering blade with a double fuller decorated with punch marks and a talismanic cross. The pommel is a polygonal Norman Type 35. The hilt has a pair of quadrilateral recurved quillons with three side rings of graduated size with a verticle rectangular reinforce decorated en suite with the pommel, the largest attached to the knuckle guard. Period correct grips with slim Turk’s heads.

Discussion: In a day and age lacking appropriate policing, the private citizen was forced to protect himself from society‚ criminal dregs. The weapon of choice was the rapier from the middle of the 16th to the end of the 17th century. The rapier is a simple but highly effective sword against the non-armored. The rapier was primarily a thrusting weapon that could inflict serious injury to an adversary‚ vital organs with minimal effort. It was also an exceptional slashing and cutting weapon; however, the slash was not as lethal as the thrust. The slash was used more as a feint to set up a finishing thrust. The slash was also a dire warning to a would-be assailant of the horrors to quickly follow if he chose not to acquiesce. The rapier is almost undeniably of Spanish origin and is probably Spain‚ most significant contribution to the Renaissance arms race. A highly expensive, ornate rapier was the equivalent of a person in our day and age making a fashion or opulence statement by wearing very expensive jewelry, such as a Rolex or Audemars Piguet watch. Because fencing is more of a thrusting art, it became commonplace throughout Europe to have as long a blade as possible to obtain an advantage. This extravagance in length reached the point that municipalities passed statutes regarding the allowable lengths of blades. Those in violation had the misfortune of having their rapier‚ blade cropped at the tip at the city gate to comply. One example of these statues is from an English Royal Proclamation on March 17, 1557‚ 1558.

The French adopted the phrase ‚”espee rapiere‚” by 1475, which later was shortened to simply ‚”rapiere,”the English in 1505 spelled it ‚”rappyer.‚” The Giles Duwes English/ French dictionary of 1532/3 adopted the rapiers definition as ‚” Spannyshe sworde”. By 1550, the term rapier had been adopted to describe a slender, sharply pointed sword designed for thrusting, cutting, and slashing attacks. The rapier now consisted of a hilt protected by a handguard.

Approximate Dimensions: total length 53 inches, blade 44.5 inches.

Comparable: Similar swords can be found at:

-Real Armeria in Madrid Cat no. G59.

-Museo Stibbert Florence, Cat no. 1991

-Musee de l Armee Paris, Cat no. P.O. 1919

Conclusion: Rapiers of this quality and condition are seldom found in the collectors market. This rapier is museum quality and a strong recommendation to any collector who only wants the best. The owner wants it sold ASAP and has priced it at under $5K for a very quick sale. ACT NOW don’t wait!!!*

Contact Me To Get The Latest Lowest Price Possible From The Owner*