A Good Musketeer's Rapier, Probably Saxony, ca. 1600

Matchlock · 25th July 2012, 02:32 PM

Sold Bonhams, July 25, 2012.

The iron parts preserved in perfect original yellowish olive oil patina, the wire binding missing from the leather-covered wooden grip except for a Turk's head. The ricasso retaining its leather covering.

Best,
Michael

Multumesc · 25th July 2012, 03:18 PM

Very beautiful sword!!

VANDOO · 26th July 2012, 04:49 PM

A VERY NICE OLD SWORD, AND ITS GOOD TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE FULLY EQUIPED MUSKETEER ALONG WITH IT. THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT WAS CARRIED AS WELL AS THE SKILL AND PRACTICE REQUIRED TO USE IT ALL EFFECTIVELY.

Matchlock · 27th July 2012, 08:23 PM

Absolutely, Barry,

And it would most probably have doubled its price just a couple of years ago ...

Items like that preserved in virtually untouched condition for hundreds of years are logically getting fewer and fewer each day due to crude overcleaning - SO PLEASE DO LEAVE YOUR ARMS THE WAY THEY ARE!

Remember:
you can always take something off old surfaces but you can never add a patina 'both convincing and real' ... at least for an experienced eye, that is.
I guess I repeated that many times on the forum anyway ...

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 27th July 2012, 10:32 PM

Considering illustrative sources of period artwork, the very same type of rapier featuring a plum-shaped pommel and recurved quillons was part of a caliverman's equipment of c. 1600 as well - a colored engraving from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe (1608) attached.

For more information on characteristic caliverman's equipment of ca. 1600 to early-17th c. please see
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rman%27s+flask

m

Matchlock · 27th July 2012, 10:39 PM

Considering illustrative sources of period artwork, the very same type of rapier featuring a plum-shaped pommel was part of the equipment of a caliverman of c. 1600 as well - a colored engraving from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe (1608) attached.

For more information on characteristic caliverman's equipment of ca. 1600 to early-17th c. please see
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rman%27s+flask

m

Jim McDougall · 30th July 2012, 03:44 PM

Thank you Michael! Great pics and information.
Totally with you on your well placed note on 'leaving the patination alone!'!!!
So many wonderful weapons have been historically euthanized by such unfortunate zeal of arms gatherers (not collectors) who have no sense of historical importance and simply use them to impress or to sell.
The patina is actually history incarnate, and was preciously earned in the aging of the weapon.
It is interesting to know more on the use of the rapier in a military sense as well, since it is commonly misperceived that these were only civilian weapons.

25th July 2012, 02:32 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Good Musketeer's Rapier, Probably Saxony, ca. 1600 Sold Bonhams, July 25, 2012. The iron parts preserved in perfect original yellowish olive oil patina, the wire binding missing from the leather-covered wooden grip except for a Turk's head. The ricasso retaining its leather covering. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 25th July 2012 at 02:47 PM.

27th July 2012, 08:23 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Absolutely, Barry, And it would most probably have doubled its price just a couple of years ago ... Items like that preserved in virtually untouched condition for hundreds of years are logically getting fewer and fewer each day due to crude overcleaning - SO PLEASE DO LEAVE YOUR ARMS THE WAY THEY ARE! Remember: you can always take something off old surfaces but you can never add a patina 'both convincing and real' ... at least for an experienced eye, that is. I guess I repeated that many times on the forum anyway ... Best, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 27th July 2012 at 10:46 PM.

27th July 2012, 10:32 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Considering illustrative sources of period artwork, the very same type of rapier featuring a plum-shaped pommel and recurved quillons was part of a caliverman's equipment of c. 1600 as well - a colored engraving from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe (1608) attached. For more information on characteristic caliverman's equipment of ca. 1600 to early-17th c. please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rman%27s+flask m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 27th July 2012 at 10:45 PM.

25th July 2012, 03:18 PM	#2
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 202	Very beautiful sword!!

26th July 2012, 04:49 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A VERY NICE OLD SWORD, AND ITS GOOD TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE FULLY EQUIPED MUSKETEER ALONG WITH IT. THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT WAS CARRIED AS WELL AS THE SKILL AND PRACTICE REQUIRED TO USE IT ALL EFFECTIVELY.

27th July 2012, 10:39 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Considering illustrative sources of period artwork, the very same type of rapier featuring a plum-shaped pommel was part of the equipment of a caliverman of c. 1600 as well - a colored engraving from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe (1608) attached. For more information on characteristic caliverman's equipment of ca. 1600 to early-17th c. please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rman%27s+flask m

30th July 2012, 03:44 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Thank you Michael! Great pics and information. Totally with you on your well placed note on 'leaving the patination alone!'!!! So many wonderful weapons have been historically euthanized by such unfortunate zeal of arms gatherers (not collectors) who have no sense of historical importance and simply use them to impress or to sell. The patina is actually history incarnate, and was preciously earned in the aging of the weapon. It is interesting to know more on the use of the rapier in a military sense as well, since it is commonly misperceived that these were only civilian weapons.