Rapier and marks for ID ... please

Jim McDougall · 6th August 2021, 09:14 PM

Here are some plates from "Cut & Thrust Weapons" (E. Wagner, 1967) which illustrate the Spanish omission of letters D and E in inscriptions to be replaced by sigils, glyphs or Hermetic symbols.

fernando · 7th August 2021, 02:17 PM

Good stuff Jim. Hortuño de Aguirre, which he spelled HORTVNO DE AGVIRE in one sword kept in the Real Armeria, and inscribed ESPADERO DEL REY in another. The Aguirre family, Hortuño the old, Domingo his son and Nicolàs the grandson, used more than one mark, including the To for Toledo.
Interesting, the inscription in the blade shown by E. Wagner; FREE ME GOD FROM MY ENEMIES, per psalm 59.
It occurs that this kind of inscriptions may (may) not be of smith/s iniative but ordered by customers with religious vocations (read fears). We better digest a customer educated in Latin than a bladesmith.

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Jim McDougall · 7th August 2021, 07:40 PM

Right Fernando,
I added these pages as key reference primers on this topic which seemed very pertinent in examining these rapier blade inscriptions.
I do believe as you say, clients had their own personalized choices for slogans, invocations and various inscriptions.

I have always understood that in most cases, blade makers depended on engravers or similarly skilled artisans to apply inscriptions and blade markings.
With punzones of course, these were stamped in by the smith.

While Palomares is probably one of the most useful resources on Toledo smiths, it is known that there were certain duplications, other makers not included of course, and in many cases, as you note, several marks were used by many makers.

I have been fascinated by blade markings for most of my time involved with arms, and beyond the identification of makers etc. the beliefs and ideals of persons associated with inscriptions is so intriguing.

Although in these times magic, occult and superstitions are often scoffed at, in the time of these swords these imbuements were most real to people.
I have always said, we do not to believe what they believed in, but we most certainly must learn just what it was that they believed.

This is what makes the study of arms, especially swords, so exciting.

6th August 2021, 09:14 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Here are some plates from "Cut & Thrust Weapons" (E. Wagner, 1967) which illustrate the Spanish omission of letters D and E in inscriptions to be replaced by sigils, glyphs or Hermetic symbols. Attached Images

7th August 2021, 02:17 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Good stuff Jim. Hortuño de Aguirre, which he spelled HORTVNO DE AGVIRE in one sword kept in the Real Armeria, and inscribed ESPADERO DEL REY in another. The Aguirre family, Hortuño the old, Domingo his son and Nicolàs the grandson, used more than one mark, including the To for Toledo. Interesting, the inscription in the blade shown by E. Wagner; FREE ME GOD FROM MY ENEMIES, per psalm 59. It occurs that this kind of inscriptions may (may) not be of smith/s iniative but ordered by customers with religious vocations (read fears). We better digest a customer educated in Latin than a bladesmith. . Last edited by fernando; 7th August 2021 at 05:25 PM.

7th August 2021, 07:40 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Right Fernando, I added these pages as key reference primers on this topic which seemed very pertinent in examining these rapier blade inscriptions. I do believe as you say, clients had their own personalized choices for slogans, invocations and various inscriptions. I have always understood that in most cases, blade makers depended on engravers or similarly skilled artisans to apply inscriptions and blade markings. With punzones of course, these were stamped in by the smith. While Palomares is probably one of the most useful resources on Toledo smiths, it is known that there were certain duplications, other makers not included of course, and in many cases, as you note, several marks were used by many makers. I have been fascinated by blade markings for most of my time involved with arms, and beyond the identification of makers etc. the beliefs and ideals of persons associated with inscriptions is so intriguing. Although in these times magic, occult and superstitions are often scoffed at, in the time of these swords these imbuements were most real to people. I have always said, we do not to believe what they believed in, but we most certainly must learn just what it was that they believed. This is what makes the study of arms, especially swords, so exciting.