Tomas Aiala Cup hilt rapier.

M ELEY · 30th May 2015, 11:53 PM

Spanish colonial? The bars of the hilt brazed directly to the cup, the plainness of the piece and grooved horn grip, the simple, undecorated pommel and quillon ends and lack of a ridge along the cup guard all seem to point to a so-called 'Caribbean cuphilt type'. Just a guess, though and I'll let Fernando or others shine light on this one! In any case, a great dueling rapier!

fernando · 31st May 2015, 11:22 AM

Looks Iberian to me but ... what do i know ?
The brazed bars could only mean this is a Portuguese sword, according to the basics.
My doubt to define whether this is a civilian or a military sword goes for the knuckle guard being fixed by a screw, a military detail, and the fine long rapier blade, more a fencing weapon for a civilian.
But then, i may tend to the civilian version, as the screw fixation may also represent a late age for tyhe sword ... like beg. XVIII century.
But these are all conjectures; no authority here

30th May 2015, 11:53 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	Spanish colonial? The bars of the hilt brazed directly to the cup, the plainness of the piece and grooved horn grip, the simple, undecorated pommel and quillon ends and lack of a ridge along the cup guard all seem to point to a so-called 'Caribbean cuphilt type'. Just a guess, though and I'll let Fernando or others shine light on this one! In any case, a great dueling rapier!

31st May 2015, 11:22 AM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Looks Iberian to me but ... what do i know ? The brazed bars could only mean this is a Portuguese sword, according to the basics. My doubt to define whether this is a civilian or a military sword goes for the knuckle guard being fixed by a screw, a military detail, and the fine long rapier blade, more a fencing weapon for a civilian. But then, i may tend to the civilian version, as the screw fixation may also represent a late age for tyhe sword ... like beg. XVIII century. But these are all conjectures; no authority here