Unusual sword

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

If this were a sword cane ; at 37" inches it would be one helluva draw to get it out .

I have a sword stick with an old ( spanish ) blade with the same length. I thaught potentially these blades are easier to draw from their concealing sheaths as, not being linked to the waist belt, will allow you to fully extend both your arms.
On the other hand, If this is indeed a rapier blade, is actually a short one. Typical ( slim ) rapiers were much of an urban weapon, the owner allways trying to have a longer specimen, to enable him to prick an opponent, while keeping him out of reach.
In 1539 the Royal regulation limited these blades to five palms ( 1,10 mts.= 43" ) but in general these rules were not so followed, and several "ilegal" rapiers appeared with seven palms, and exceptionaly with nine palms ( or spans.) Even an ingineous system was developed, in which a five palms blade was indeed a two part set, with an extendable two palms length emerging from the hollow ricasso. These were called growing rapiers. Even King Dom João IV (1640) was found to have one in his armoury inventory.
The above said is mostly a quotation from the book already mentioned in this thread by Jim.
It would be great to figure out who is the figure opposite from Diana ( being Diana ). Looks like having a quiver on the back, and brandishing a sickle weapon on his right hand ... another god ? Pagan ? There should be some relation between these and the tryumphal figures on the ricasso?
So far and within my limitations i don't see that this blade is rather Portuguese and not Toledan, or so else.
... Eventualy a customized piece,to be used by a public official or some kind of big shot? One can see Rick's logic in the non waved lower half matching well into the halfswording style , like the spare hand grabing the blade ricasso to strenghten the stabbing. This would surely mean this is an operational weapon.
The wood handle fixation looks quite tight and well configured, maybe not a domestic job. I wonder what the missing pommel knob looked like.
Wouldn't there be blades, even efective blades, deliberatly made for concealed weapons ? If in that period a Court official or some other big shot would officiously carry a stick or a baton with a concealed blade, couldn't sometimes the blade be directly made for the purpose ?
kind regards
fernando

[Congoblades]

Another item in the african collection is not african, maiby there is a link with the sword? or maiby it has nothing to do with it , just wondering what the meaning of this spoon is, being in a collection between 70 other weapons and items who are typical Central Africa, exept for the sword ofcourse.

[katana]

I'm still fascinated by the waves in the blade....Rapier or sword stick...what is the function of these 'waves'.....does it cause a greater wound/damage or has it another purpose

[fernando]

Probably my last post on the Portuguese rapier length evolution was not so vital for the thread subject and therefore not so much considered, but still i ought to make a correction, as i have put it wrong somehow. The lengths i quoted from Mr. Rainer Daehnhardt's book, as also from another work by Eduardo Nobre As Armas e os Barões , for the legal and "off mark" rapiers, were those for the complete sword, and not for the blade alone, as i might have put it in some parts of my post.
My apologies for such lack of precision.
fernando

[fernando]

Hi Katana
The experts in the Forum should know a lot about this subject. I beleive the flaming blades have different reasons, depending on the purpose of the object. Probably only for symbolic and visual impact in non combat pieces. However those seen in action swords, the heavy stuff, are basicaly intended to offer a multiple cutting area. It should cut ( slash ) quicker and deeper. This looking to have some logic, is ( at least ) quoted in this nice book of the Portuguese arms evolution by Eduardo Nobre.
So far i find Congoblades piece a unique situtation, as i can not trace, neither in pictures nor in texts, a half waved blade. Certainly there is some material out there, waiting to be spoted. Till then, Rick's aproach on the halfswording hipothesis, prevails as best, i would say.
fernando