English Rapier, ca. 1640

Description

Iron hilt featuring asymmetrical cup guard with three lobes on the obverse, pierced with
open lattice work and attached double symmetrical quillons with large scrolled rams horn
terminals. Knuckle bow extending from the quillon block with a scrolling side bar attached
to the cup and joining the ovoid pommel with a screw. Spiral grip with twisted copper wire
wrap finished with turks heads top and bottom. Diamond-section 40 ½” Spanish blade with
8″ central fuller stamped “***EN TOLEDO***” with a line border on each side and stamped
with a maker’s mark on each side of the ricasso (hidden behind the cup guard). Metal with
gunmetal finish and light salt and pepper pitting. Overall length 47 ½”. Distinctive styling of
the English Civil War period.