Proto Mortuary Sword

[Triarii]

All of the so-called 'proto-mortuary' swords I've seen to date have hilts with the same basic shape and with simple straight line decoration, with maybe a few more lines around where the blade goes through the hilt.

I got this one back in July, which has way more detail on the hilt. Sort of half way house to the well chiselled hilts of full so-called 'Mortuary' swords.

33" multi-fullered blade, which is 1/4" thick at the start of the spine. A false edge of c.9". Feels very handy indeed.

'Andrea Ferrara' and some initials in the fullers either side.

[Jim McDougall]

This is an extremely handsome example of these English half basket cavalry swords of early to mid 17th c. I honestly have not heard of the term proto-mortuary sword, as this goes in line with the death of Charles I of England who was executed in 1649 presuming the 'mortuary' hilt was commemorating that event. The term presumes the 'cavalier' style face typically in the motif of the hilt was the death mask of Charles I.

Interestingly that face appears carved into the pommel on this example.

The blade is particularly exciting as this dramatic fullering is evident on the finer examples of Solingen blades for the British market. Contrary to popular belief, the ANDREA FERARA blades were not confined to the Scottish market.
This one is triple marked following this convention often seen on Italian blades.

Unusual to see the very early wire wrapped leather over wood grip surviving.

These style hilts are known to have existed notably prior to the 1649 date typically regarded as the terminus ante quem for the 'mortuary', so this one dates presumably first half 17th c. FANTASTIC EXAMPLE!!!!!

[Triarii]

Very pleased with this one Jim. By far the most detailed hilt of its type and best I've seen.

'Proto-mortuary' is another convenient Victorianism (or later) term as these were assumed to evolve into the so-called 'mortuary' swords.
I asume that this is purely on the basis that simpler is assumed to mean earlier.

Noting that both Fairfax and Cromwell (particularly the one with the blade marked 'For the Commonwealth of England') had 'Mortuary' swords, I think the connection to the just and lawful execution of the Man of Blood is debunked. Yes, I'm a Parliament man...

Thanks for the comments on the fullering. I have a leaf-patterned sort of mortuary sword shaped hilt that has similar triple fullering.

[Jim McDougall]

Yours is certainly one of the finest examples I've seen!
Mine is pretty rough, but intact. I wish I had better pictures, so reminds me next time I 'visit' it to take better ones.

My example also has ANDREA FERARA blade with central fullers, when it was published in 'Bezdek' it was shown dating c.1642 by the author. It is decidedly rough, and the guard has separated from the pommel, but it is good for my 'historically' purposes.

The Andrea Ferara (Solingen) blades on our examples illustrates that these blades were by no means confined to the Scottish markets as mentioned.
The familiar spurious Spanish 'Espadero del Rey' mark is of course also a favored convention the Solingen makers added often.

The fullering on yours again is phenomenal. Could you post the other you mention? This is a good opportunity to discuss more on these 'mortuary' hilted swords.

[urbanspaceman]

Hello Folks. Mortuary swords are on my radar at present because I don't have one and I am torn between the odd and the exemplary. I have a Cavalier rapier (with a Toledo blade - remember Jim) that has a very similar hilt to the Mortuary but I have my eye on two examples of Proto style Mortuaries. The one has an unusual shell, the other a thumb ring, which is what I am leaning towards. It has the Green Man rather than the Cavalier head and I suspect will have been hilted on Islay which according to a reliable source is where many Mortuary swords were hilted.







ps
Your example Triari would have made my choice even harder.

[Triarii]

Jim, I really like your mortuary type sword with the thumb ring and no inner guard. There was one up for auction a few years back from that guy in Market Harborough who ran an antique shop and used to show people his own collection - they were all slightly coated in new red rust. I went for the Schiavona instead. Still kick myself.

Oddly, thumb rings are a continental thing, so seeing them on typically English hilts is odd. Having said that, the one in the Cleveland Museum of Art attributed to Fairfax has a thumb ring, as does one of the swords attributed to Cromwell in the museum in Huntingdon.

Urban - I've never heard the Islay thing before. Can you elaborate please?

PS I have one like the first of your photos, with the perforated shell guard. It caught my eye because of the cabalistic markings it had on the blade. They're reckoned to be continental in origin, apparently.