Information on CAINO blades

NeilUK · 6th December 2020, 12:51 PM

Not much help with information, I'm afraid, but here is my small contribution, another example - a 17th century crab-claw broadsword stamped CAINO in the fuller on both sides of the blade, marked with crosses before and after. I had always assumed the name to be the town of Caino near Brescia but it could well be the bladesmith. There are no other marks

Jim McDougall · 12th December 2020, 05:45 PM

As you note, the singular use of CAINO without other markings suggests more likely the place rather than individual maker.
I cannot help but wonder if perhaps Solingen used the 'CAINO' marking in the sense of 'brand' in the manner of 'SAHAGUM', ' ANDREA FERARA'.
I am not familiar with Solingen's use of Italian names(other than obviously Andrea Ferara as noted), marks on blades in this manner, as they profoundly did with Spain and Toledo, but it seems quite possible.

Would very much like to hear more on that possibility or examples of Caino blades known to be of German origin.

NeilUK · 13th December 2020, 12:46 AM

Because the crab-claw hilt is definitely an Italian design I would suppose that the CAINO blade on my sword is a genuine Italian blade rather than a Solingen import. But nothing is ever 100% certain in the world of antiques!

Jim McDougall · 13th December 2020, 02:40 AM

Exactly, NOTHING is ever certain. While the design is indeed Italian, the designs of Italian sword hilts were extremely influential, and these styles were incorporated either almost identically or in modified forms in many places.
The thing with Germany is that they often copied blades and names and markings from highly regarded makers in other places.

When AVB Norman wrote" The Rapier and Smallsword 1460-1820" (1980), it is a reference on sword 'hilts' cataloguing types by number and from mostly art work and portraiture. He stated it was not essential to include blade forms as these were often mostly imported and hilted in accord with local or personal preferences.

With Spanish cuphilts (17th c) while these are typically of course deemed Spanish, however the hilts were often made in Italy in Spanish provincial regions. I always found this confusing.
As you say, things in antique arms are not always certain

6th December 2020, 12:51 PM	#1
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 126	Not much help with information, I'm afraid, but here is my small contribution, another example - a 17th century crab-claw broadsword stamped CAINO in the fuller on both sides of the blade, marked with crosses before and after. I had always assumed the name to be the town of Caino near Brescia but it could well be the bladesmith. There are no other marks Attached Images

12th December 2020, 05:45 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,490	As you note, the singular use of CAINO without other markings suggests more likely the place rather than individual maker. I cannot help but wonder if perhaps Solingen used the 'CAINO' marking in the sense of 'brand' in the manner of 'SAHAGUM', ' ANDREA FERARA'. I am not familiar with Solingen's use of Italian names(other than obviously Andrea Ferara as noted), marks on blades in this manner, as they profoundly did with Spain and Toledo, but it seems quite possible. Would very much like to hear more on that possibility or examples of Caino blades known to be of German origin. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 12th December 2020 at 07:35 PM.

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13th December 2020, 12:46 AM	#3
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 126	Because the crab-claw hilt is definitely an Italian design I would suppose that the CAINO blade on my sword is a genuine Italian blade rather than a Solingen import. But nothing is ever 100% certain in the world of antiques!

13th December 2020, 02:40 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,490	Exactly, NOTHING is ever certain. While the design is indeed Italian, the designs of Italian sword hilts were extremely influential, and these styles were incorporated either almost identically or in modified forms in many places. The thing with Germany is that they often copied blades and names and markings from highly regarded makers in other places. When AVB Norman wrote" The Rapier and Smallsword 1460-1820" (1980), it is a reference on sword 'hilts' cataloguing types by number and from mostly art work and portraiture. He stated it was not essential to include blade forms as these were often mostly imported and hilted in accord with local or personal preferences. With Spanish cuphilts (17th c) while these are typically of course deemed Spanish, however the hilts were often made in Italy in Spanish provincial regions. I always found this confusing. As you say, things in antique arms are not always certain