A Transitional Spanish Rapier / Small Sword circa 1650 to 1680

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Price: £2,150

Ref: 52112637

Item Description

A very interesting Spanish sword dating to the second half of the 17th century. The hilt is chiselled with scenes similar in style to those which appear on some earlier 17th century Spanish rapiers. The proportions show that it has evolved from larger typical rapier dimensions but is not slender enough to be classified as a “Small Sword” which ultimately replaced the rapier as a weapon in the second half of the 17th century. A a result it is an example “in transition” between the two edged weapon styles. The hilt is extensively chiselled with figures in raised relief and is mounted with a fine quality rapier blade.

The salient feature of the hilt is the double shell guard. The exteriors of the convex oval guards are chiselled with two scenes.  The first shows two armies facing each other mounted on horses with their leaders at the front. The riders carry spear tipped lances fixed with pennants. The second scene shows a medieval castle inside a city wall with the occupants behind the wall (depicted as three in number) surrendering the city by waving a flag to men on horseback. The scenes seem to represent a battle and successful siege of a Muslim city by Christian forces during the earlier Christian Reconquest of Spain.

The solid rectangular section quillon block and swollen quillon are chiselled on one side with reclining bowmen amongst scrolls.  The reverse shows a mounted figure chiselled into the block and another reclining bowman on the quillon. The knuckle bow is chiselled on both sides with chevrons and has a swollen middle thickened with a knop on the outer side. The terminal is flat with a small hook which fixes the bow into the pommel front. The solid pommel is of slightly flattened ovoid form with an integral waisted pommel button and a flared ribbed neck beneath. A figure of a horseman is present on one side and another bowman on the other.

The original baluster shaped grip is of rounded rectangular cross section bound with copper strip separated with contra twisted ropes of copper wire. Woven copper “Turks’ Head” terminals are present top and bottom of the grip.

The stiff diamond section tapering rapier blade is of fine quality. It has a short ricasso. A deep tapering single fuller extends along the middle on each side from the ricasso for 7.5 inches (19 cm). On each side inside the fuller  separated letters flanked by quatrefoil shapes of small crosses form the name of the blade maker S A H A G OM.

The inscription “SAHAGOM” has various spellings and historically refers to Alonzo de Sahagun (the older or younger), who were renowned masters in Toledo, Spain, and known for the exceptional quality of their blades. In the 17th and 18th centuries the mark persisted on blades, often applied by other smiths using the mark as a spurious badge of quality for their own output.

The sword is in original condition and in good tight order. The blade is 32 inches long and overall the sword is 38.25 inches.