A North European rapier for discussion

[Cerjak]

A North European rapier for discussion
The blade, etched with AR crowned on each side of the ricasso, the grip with an early binding of plaited wire and 'Turk's heads .
80 cm in blade and 95 cm overall
any comment on it will be welcome.

Best
Cerjak

[CSinTX]

I'll offer an inexperienced opinion. The grip and pommel look to be 16th-17th century and the blade appears to me to be later. Curious to see what others have to offer.

[Jim McDougall]

The faceted pommel is indeed likely early 17th c. as is the guard, but the grip has been rewrapped and the banded wire clearly much more modern.
The blade is from a Saxony officers rapier of the 18th c. (Wagner, 1967, pp.243, 379, pl.29).
On these 'smallsword' form swords, the blade was 82.2 cm long, and the monogram corresponds to that typically used on Saxon blades 18th c.
with crown over the AR initials.
For King Augustus Frederick III ( Frederick Augustus II ,1696-1763) so the blade clearly of likely mid 18th c. period. Uncertain what period the refurbishing of these much older components might fall into, but the type of wide banding over the grip wire seems like the type found on various military hilts of latter 18th century, but usually over leather material.

Also of interest is the use of cross and orb on crown on this blade motif where usually other device is used in the examples I viewed.

Perhaps a 'Historismus' type composite and possibly intended for either fraternal groups, possibly even theatrical use. Whatever the case, the components appear 17th c. for guard and pommel, 18th century. Certainly a handsome looking rapier, and would be interesting to know more.

[Jim McDougall]

Well allrighty then :)

[Cerjak]

The faceted pommel is indeed likely early 17th c. as is the guard, but the grip has been rewrapped and the banded wire clearly much more modern.
The blade is from a Saxony officers rapier of the 18th c. (Wagner, 1967, pp.243, 379, pl.29).
On these 'smallsword' form swords, the blade was 82.2 cm long, and the monogram corresponds to that typically used on Saxon blades 18th c.
with crown over the AR initials.
For King Augustus Frederick III ( Frederick Augustus II ,1696-1763) so the blade clearly of likely mid 18th c. period. Uncertain what period the refurbishing of these much older components might fall into, but the type of wide banding over the grip wire seems like the type found on various military hilts of latter 18th century, but usually over leather material.

Also of interest is the use of cross and orb on crown on this blade motif where usually other device is used in the examples I viewed.

Perhaps a 'Historismus' type composite and possibly intended for either fraternal groups, possibly even theatrical use. Whatever the case, the components appear 17th c. for guard and pommel, 18th century. Certainly a handsome looking rapier, and would be interesting to know more.

Hello Jim
You have remarkably described this sword by locating de period of each component and also the origin of the blade.
When selling, it had been specified by Tomas Del Mar this sword came from the collection of a European prince.
It remains to determine the period of this assembly but as you wrote it, with a blade dating from the mid 18th century and the the grip's banded wire of a type used at the end of the 18th it will be very possible that this sword was mounted at the end of the 18th century .
If possible can you post here a scan of this book where a similar blade is described .

Best
Cerjak