A Good Musketeer's Rapier, Probably Saxony, ca. 1600

Jim McDougall · 30th July 2012, 03:44 PM

Thank you Michael! Great pics and information.
Totally with you on your well placed note on 'leaving the patination alone!'!!!
So many wonderful weapons have been historically euthanized by such unfortunate zeal of arms gatherers (not collectors) who have no sense of historical importance and simply use them to impress or to sell.
The patina is actually history incarnate, and was preciously earned in the aging of the weapon.
It is interesting to know more on the use of the rapier in a military sense as well, since it is commonly misperceived that these were only civilian weapons.

30th July 2012, 03:44 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	Thank you Michael! Great pics and information. Totally with you on your well placed note on 'leaving the patination alone!'!!! So many wonderful weapons have been historically euthanized by such unfortunate zeal of arms gatherers (not collectors) who have no sense of historical importance and simply use them to impress or to sell. The patina is actually history incarnate, and was preciously earned in the aging of the weapon. It is interesting to know more on the use of the rapier in a military sense as well, since it is commonly misperceived that these were only civilian weapons.