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Old 11th December 2011, 11:01 PM   #4
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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Thank you for bringing that in Gene!!! What a beauty!

Nando, another thing I like on this left hand dagger is the styling which was typically en suite with its accompanying rapier. In this subtle example the impressive simplicity of the Spanish cuphilt is seen by the features of rompepuntas and guardopolvo present in this dagger.
It seems that these pillared or caged wire guards were present in the first half of the 17th century, but carried traditionally in the 18th century arming swords often colloquially termed 'bilbo's' from what I can find so far.

To me the guardopolvo was always an interesting feature, termed a 'dust cover' at base of the cup surrounding the blade, these to me always seemed puzzling for the claimed purpose, and as in this dsgger seem more of a structural bolster. They might haved been especially pertinant in the openwork cuphilts as seen from Brescia, but seem more of a traditional component in the others. You have lots of experience and contact with mainstream authorities on these, what are your thoughts?

All the best,
Jim
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