The blade features the markings of Peter Munsten the Elder (1552-1628) of Solingen, Germany, which was arguably the blade manufacturing capital of the world, producing many of the most talented blade smiths as well as some of the most sought after blades. Munsten was an active sword smith in Solingen from at least 1591 until his death in 1628. Some sources indicate that Munsten emigrated to London in the early 17th century to work at the Hounslow manufactory, possibly only working there for a brief period due to the upheaval of the 30 Years' War before returning to Solingen, accounting for a small number of Munsten blades marked London. His son, Peter Munsten the Younger (1580-1629), also became a respected swordsmith, being noted as using the "Moor's head" mark on his blades as well as spelling his name as "PETHER". Examples of blades by Peter Munsten the Elder can be found in the Art Institute of Chicago (Reference Number 1982.3354), the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Accession Number 1977-167-576), and the Swedish Statens Historiska Museer (Item Number 5073_LRK). This example is an incredibly crafted and ornately embellished representative example of a late 16th/early 17th century "sword of war", having a detailed, deeply relief chiseled swept hilt along with a broad, sturdy blade. Swords such as this example remained popular through the 30 Years' War due to their durability, and an ornate example such as this in easy to imagine belonging to a wealthy military man of some standing. It measures approximately 42 1/8 inches overall with a 34 1/2 inch blade that measures approximately 2 inches wide at the forte. There are two deep fullers on each side starting at the quillion block and extending 10 1/2 inches. Within the fullers on each side is marked "PETER [Passau/Solingen wolf] MVNSTEN" and "MEFECIT [Passau/Solingen wolf] SOLINGEN". The Passau/Solingen wolf markings are of the style attributed to the late 16th century. At the termination of the fullers on both sides are three deeply stamp "wildmen", a mark strongly associated with the elder Munsten. The hilt itself is masterfully relief chiseled showing floral motifs as well as various scenes of knights/men-at-arms on the guard, quillion block, and pommel, a reichsadler and classical bust on the pommel, and lion's busts on the knuckle guard. The guard itself is in the iconic "swept hilt" style with large side ring and loop-guard, large dual finger rings, treble counterguard, swept rear quillion flowing into the knuckle guard, and an egg-shaped pommel. The grip is wrapped with iron wire with nicely executed Turk's head knots at the top and bottom. The hilt was built from multiple pieces that are pinned together and was crafted in the workshop of Anton Konrad (1880-1938) of Dresden in the early 1900s as a copy of an original. Konrad is known to have built exceptional copies based on examples from the Dresden Armory, often using original antique blades, and many of his swords now reside in major institutional and private collections.

Fine overall, the blade showing primarily a bright grey patina with some scattered patches of mild pitting, concentrated towards the point, and almost all of the markings remaining crisp. The guard shows an attractive grey patina, with one arm of the counterguard absent, and the chisel work remaining incredibly crisp. The grip is fine retaining almost all of the wire wrap which is slightly loose. This is a beautiful example of an ornate sword of war!