Handling Authentic Antique Swords in Swizterland
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(below)
Bastard-sword c. 1530
Excellent! One of the best swords I have ever handled ever! (including near-perfect
katanas from 1540). Very light and balanced. German or Italian. Note finger-rings
(annelets) for gripping. (Starting bid at a mere $7000.) |
(below)
Ring-hilted bastard-sword
c. 1540
Swiss. Very sweet. Light despite its appearing thickness and width. Strangely it
had no ricasso and was sharp all its length (perhaps it was later altered).
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(below)
An extra long
Swiss Katzbalger c. 1500 (?).
In the background are a mishmash of swords from 1600 to 1900 including a "Highlander-
esque" ivory katana, a cage-hilt schiavona, and a few Victorian era reproductions. On
the shelf are several superb helms from the 1600's (just gathering dust!). |
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 (left)
A superb swept-hilt rapier! c. 1580.
Note the diamond-like blade cross-section, you can just about see the riser in the middle.
Despite its seeming width it had NO EDGE WHATSOEVER. Very light and quick and comfortable
(with what little room I had for play).
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(above)
A really nice cup-hilt rapier from
c. 1660
This rapier blade is a very narrow but thick triangle shape and very, very rigid. It came
to a nasty pencil thin point. It was a very light weapon, quite long and with a thick cup
hiding the annelets inside. It was of course, completely edgeless |
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(right)
An Italian cut &thrust schiavona from c. 1550
A blurry photo (I was too excited) of what is the best sword I have every handled!
Incredible! This blade felt like it had been personally made for me. It was long, light,
rigid, comfortable, and just beautiful. It is one of only a few surviving pieces with its
original ricasso leather binding still intact. It handled superbly (I had much more room
here) and still had a keen cutting edge. The hilt was adorned with gold. |
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(left)
A Swiss true two-hander w/ side
rings, c. 1480
Look at the size of this thing! It was nearly 6 feet and had a handle of over 20 inches.
Its ricasso and flukes were at least a quarter inch thick steel, and YET it was light! It
was under 5 pounds! Extraordinary work to make steel this strong and light. Next to it are
two spiked pole-arms. |
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