A well decorated cup hilt for comment

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Spanish Cup Hilt Rapier.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections
By the early sixteenth century a European nobleman customarily wore a sword while in civilian dress. To defend his unarmored hands, more protective sword hilts were developed, which, when fitted with a narrow blade intended for thrusting more than cutting, became known as a rapier. This lethal weapon was also the most prominent accessory to a nobleman's costume and therefore was fashionably decorated. By the seventeenth century the use of rapiers was being taught in several styles, or schools, of fencing. The Spanish school favoried a characteristic type of cup-hilted rapier used with a left-handed dagger. It was practiced not only in Spain but also in areas under Spanish rule, such as the Kingdom of Naples and the Duchy of Milan. This ornate example is signed by the Milanese swordmaker Francesco Maria Rivolta. Its sturdy steel cup is chiseled with a swirling floral design that shows the strong influence of contemporary metalwork from Brescia. Cup-hilted rapiers remained popular in Spanish territories until the late eighteenth century, long after the us of rapiers had gone out of fashion elsewhere. Donald J. LaRocca, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 137.

see the weapon at https://www.philamuseum.org/collecti...ent/71707.html

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This sword is probably a favourite when I consider best European swords... It seems to call for a well trained swordsman and has an air of seniority about it. Seen below with similar hilts for comparison.

Described as~

A) Italian rapier, c.1610. Of true swept-hilt form, it has deep chiseling to the knuckle guard.

B) A North European dueling rapier, c.1635, with a distinctive elongated and fluted pommel.

C) A Spanish cup-hilt rapier, c.1660. The cup and hilt are extensively pierced. It has very long, straight, slender quillons with finials to each end.

D) An English rapier with a finely chiseled cup hilt, c.1650. The blade is stamped “Sahagum”.

[Foxbat]

As others already indicated, the pommel does look suspicious, a far more traditional form would be as in the picture below, but without actually examining the item I would not declare it a replacement.

The grip wire is undoubtedly rather poor replacement. Most good examples of that style have finer grips. Here is the picture of the similar rapier, where I redid the grip wire - it improved the appearance quite a bit.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

As others already indicated, the pommel does look suspicious, a far more traditional form would be as in the picture below, but without actually examining the item I would not declare it a replacement.

The grip wire is undoubtedly rather poor replacement. Most good examples of that style have finer grips. Here is the picture of the similar rapier, where I redid the grip wire - it improved the appearance quite a bit.

Can the pommels typically be unscrewed from the tang?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Victrix

Can the pommels typically be unscrewed from the tang?

Many like the one in the first post are; mine are. Probably Foxbat's example also.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

As others already indicated, the pommel does look suspicious ...

May i ask, which of the above pommels you say that looks suspicious, Foxbat ?

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by fernando

May i ask, which of the above pommels you say that looks suspicious, Foxbat ?

I meant the first one.

I believe mine is peened, does not unscrew, but I will double check later today.

PS. Yes, peened.