help please ! I'm being offered to buy a rapier...

Marc · 9th January 2005, 05:53 PM

Rivkin:

The first one (green background) is indeed a 18th century Spanish sword, but not a rapier. It's an exemplar of the so called "Pattern 1796" sword for Spanish Cavalry, and it would be better called a broadsword. The one in the picture is genuine, but I don't know if it is the one you're going to get.
Now, the second one (red background). It's always hard to judge from a picture... but it looks fishy to me. The grip seems a replacement, and the guard... well, to me, it looks like an attempt to turn part of an 18th c. Spanish military broadsword guard into something rapier-esque by adding some additional bars. The blade looks also out of place. My impression is that it's a composite, with some elements added with the intention of making it look as a rapier.
Online identifications are always delicate, but in this case I would proceed with certain caution. Just my opinion, of course.

Marc

9th January 2005, 05:53 PM	#2
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	Rivkin: The first one (green background) is indeed a 18th century Spanish sword, but not a rapier. It's an exemplar of the so called "Pattern 1796" sword for Spanish Cavalry, and it would be better called a broadsword. The one in the picture is genuine, but I don't know if it is the one you're going to get. Now, the second one (red background). It's always hard to judge from a picture... but it looks fishy to me. The grip seems a replacement, and the guard... well, to me, it looks like an attempt to turn part of an 18th c. Spanish military broadsword guard into something rapier-esque by adding some additional bars. The blade looks also out of place. My impression is that it's a composite, with some elements added with the intention of making it look as a rapier. Online identifications are always delicate, but in this case I would proceed with certain caution. Just my opinion, of course. Marc