Mark on blade .....who knows it..

[Jim McDougall]

The so called 'anchor' decoration is a convention well known on Spanish blades of 16th-17th centuries which was of course also used on blades produced in Germany, primarily Solingen and in Italy, where the provincial connections with Spain prevailed.

As shown on the pages from the late Roger Evans ("The Plug Bayonet") these even occurred on bayonets (but later), and this same configuration was found on a Tomas Aiala rapier from the wreck of the Atocha (1622) off Florida. Clearly the 'anchor' convention was widespread and long standing.

The ubiquitous 'running wolf' mark was not a distinct makers mark, but a type of marking with apparent beginnings in Passau centuries before its more widespread use as an indicator suggesting blade quality. While first associated with guilds, this was typically seen as more a talismanic imbuement of the blade which became an element of what was known as 'Passau art' (Wagner, 1967). Passau as a center for armourers who supplied mercenary forces seems to have had various types of amuletic elements available in these very superstitious contexts.

As the 'wolf' was essentially an imbuement whose presence on a blade was the key factor, artistic quality obviously was not essential as obviously seen in the sometimes wildly stylized character of the many examples. These were scribed into blades typically by various workers, but it does seem that in Solingen a degree of uniformity was reached in some degree suggesting perhaps some stamps may have been produced. There was no linear or chronological development of the device, but mostly variation aligned with singular application.

As noted, some makers used a Moors(or Blackamoor as many references term) head as a marking in Solingen, and typically these are in a side view. However the shops and families sometimes deviated from the conventional forms used, and these lesser volume examples were not included in known records. It does seem I have seen similar as well, however mostly these frontal facial depictions seem more in line with decoration in themes on hilts of 17th century.

A nice example which appears as described, German arming sword with rapier style hilt of early 17th century.