Heavy Rapier
 

Does anyone recognize the copper inlaid X's in the blade? Thoughts on age, origin, other similar examples, etc? Measures 118cm. It's heavy but balances very well in the hand.

Beautiful piece indeed; would not mind to have it :cool:.
Because, precisely as you say, being a 'heavy' piece, i would (personally) call it a (swept hilt) sword, not a rapier. Can you tell the blade width at its base ?
I would not know what the mark represents, but certainly not Spanish ... i would say.
Others will hopefully have a better judgement.


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I don't know about the single cross but the more elaborate mark on the first detail photograph is the reichsapfel, an imperial mark of a large cross fourche' surmounted on a girdled sphere, found very often on southern German blades of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Neil

Nando, the proportions of the blade do indeed suggest a cut-and-thrust weapon more properly termed a riding-sword, or spada da cavallo. Let's wait for the width measurement to come in, to be sure.

Thanks for the comments.

The base of the blade measures 3.4cm across.

Ah ... a vigorous riding sword. What say you, Filipe ?

Agreed!
 

Yes, Nando, it definitely looks equine to me. Come to think of it, the verbal description provided a big hint because a true rapier, being a thrusting weapon should have a livelier more responsive balance without the greater mass that is desirable in a sword that would also be usable for cutting.

CS, I like the style and proportions on the hilt, congratulations on a beautiful sword.

Lovely sword. Likely Passau or Munich.