Rapier for coments

[fernando]

Hi Manolete,

Originally Posted by celtan

... Hilts and pommels_are often replaced because of hand-sweat's salinity. And due to the different steel qualities, swords retrieved from churches or tombs often needed to have both replaced...

A reason you didn't mention is the decision to substitute (not replace) the pommel in order to alter the sword's center of balance. Suppose the owner was a fencer and wished to have a different (better) handling controll?
Or suppose this pommel was a family heirloom and he was honoured to mount it in his sword?
But i am only digressing ... for reasons connected with this pommel being the discussion "battle horse" or, in other words, the "pommel of the question"

Originally Posted by celtan

...To me, the pommel looks good, but it might be a replacement. How easy was it to replace a pommel?
Nando, is the sword well balanced? If its not, there we have the answer...

I am not the right person to tell you that; besides not being a fencer, i am a forced left hander. But yes, i find it quite maneuvrable, with such a long blade and the center of balance rather close from the guard. Mind you, the hilt complex (ricasso+grip+pommel) is quite lengthy, with its 20 cms (8").