Dating to circa 1600, this fine rapier has a 38 3/4 inch double edged blade with long, narrow fuller on each side pierced with twenty diamond shaped holes and struck with a maker’s mark on the inside flat of the ricasso. The iron hilt is formed of flattened bars with the guard formed of two asymmetrical scalloped pierced upturned shells, the inner shell protected by two rounded bars, and a large slightly tapering cylindrical pommel with button. The bars, guard and each pommel decorated with engraved intertwining strands heightened with silver inlaid lines and gilt dots. With original wooden grip covered in leather with twisted wire binding and Turk’s heads.

Fine, especially considering it is over 400 years old. The blade lightly discolored with small scattered patches of light surface corrosion marking, slightly deeper corrosion marking to the ricasso. The hilt has a dark grey aged patina with most of the silver inlaid lines and most of the gilt dots remaining intact. The leather covering to the grip has an old lacquered or varnished finish and has some age related wear. The wire binding is tight and without loss. Although not polished, some of the wire binding on the grip is possibly silver. A rare example of an ornately decorated classic German swept hilt rapier.