A Saxon rapier

CIRCA 1590-1610

Details

A Saxon rapier
circa 1590-1610
With tapering double-edged blade of flattened diamond section with central fuller stamped 'IHS' on each face of the forte and recessed ricasso struck with two marks, a crescent and a crowned serpent, the hilt of blued iron, the guard of flat bars comprising vertically recurved quillons, the forward one forming a knuckle-guard, quillon-block incised with the number 12, two heart-shaped side-rings on the outside, the lower one linking the tips of the arms, each of which is struck with a maker's mark, inner diagonal trifurcated guard, flattened barrel-shaped pommel with button, and leather-covered wooden grip with trellis binding of twisted copper wire
35¼in. (89.5cm.) blade

Provenance

Douglas Ash Collection

Exhibited

Wilmer House Museum, Farnham, 3-29 April 1962, No. 33

Lot Essay

The mark on the hilt is that of Abraham Schuch or Schuech of Dresden. Many similar rapiers supplied for the use of the soldiers of the Electoral guard remain in the armoury of the Electors of Saxony (now Historisches Museum), Dresden
See A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1980, p. 117; The Kretzchmar von Kienbusch Collection, 1963, pp. 173-4, No. 369

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