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**EXTREMELY RARE**ORIGINAL**16th Century Circa 1550-1580 German Heinrich Koel Spanish Export Rapier Sword Blade Signed ‘ENRIQUE COEL EN ALEMANIA’ With C1650 Transitional Form Hilt. Sn 22060:3 - 22060:3 Rapier is a loose term for a type of slender, sharply pointed sword. With such design features, the rapier is optimized to be a thrusting weapon, but cutting or slashing attacks were also recorded in some historical treatises. These weapons were mainly used in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. The rapiers of the 16th & 17th centuries had long heavy blades and elaborate guards made up of all sorts of combinations of cups, shells and loops (examples of period rapiers are illustrated on page 525 of the book ‘A Glossary Of The Construction, Decoration & Use Of Arms & Armour’ by Stone). By a long period of slow evolution rapier blades became lighter and guards incorporated fuller guards to afford better protection. Our Rapier’s blade was made circa 1550 - 1580 by a German smith named Heinrich Koel for the Spanish market (hence he’s written his name as Enrique Coel and En Alamania which is clever branding).
The rapier is 42 ½” overall length. It has a 36 ¾” double edged Rapier blade with fullers. Both sides of the blade have crisp markings, one side ‘+E+N+R+I+Q+U+E+ C+O+E+L+’ the reverse ‘+E+N+A+L+E+M+A+N+I+A+’, (illustrated). The blade is undamaged and has light staining consistent with age. The bar hilt guard hilt with urn type pommel has a partial bowl guard indicating transitional hilt replacement circa 1650 and has a turn down quillon and finger ring guard. The wood grip has just knocks bumps and bruises expected (hilt replacement was a relatively common occurrence when one had a blade in the family). During duals these swords were often paired with a dagger carried in the left hand, referred to as a ‘Main Guache’ (French-left hand) not only for defensive parrying but also for attack, see page 431 of Stone’s book (a Victorian or earlier Main Gauche dagger is available separately on our website stock number Sn 22060:4). As is usual with European swords of this age it is without its scabbard. The price for this ancient Rapier in excellent condition includes UK delivery. Sn 22060:3
£2,450.00
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