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Old 21st May 2023, 11:06 PM   #3
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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This is an amazing 'mortuary', which is of course the term used for these English swords of 17th c. and many of these were of course from the first half 17th. Many of these were hilted in the famed Hounslow shops pre1640s where German makers had been brought in to produce blades.

While there were blades made there, most were brought in from Solingen.
The numerous kinds of inscriptions on these blades and others brought into England during the Civil Wars is virtually boundless, and many examples are described (though not pictured) in "Catalogue of the Sword Collection at the York Castle Museum" ed. P.R.Newman, 1985.

Most information can be found in the "Wallace Collection" Vol. II, Sir James Mann,1962.

Wirsbergh is a Solingen dialect version of Weyersberg, which used to be an estate to the north of the wall surrounding the town center. Wilhelm Tesche lived there and added von Wirsberg or variations to his 'signature'. (p.295). spelled WIERSBERG.

This was in his time up until 1625. The 'Passau' wolf was used in Solingen from late 16th through the 17th c. and had become more 'quality' imbuement than guild or other administrative mark. It is believed this mark also carried important talismanic qualities as often associated with Passau work (Wagner, 1967).
It is correct that the wolf was always configured 'upside down' with any other mark or inscription on blade. The reason remains unclear.

The markings are too unclear to say whether kings head or not, but that mark is more associated with Wundes.

Me Fecit Solingen is commonly added to inscription names on these blades first half of 17th.
The maker Wirsberg (William) end 16th into 17th usually used tong marking but I believe used a hunting horn about 1620s. I have a Scottish basket hilt (as you note 'Irish'?) with this horn mark, and SEBASTIAN (spurious Spanish name) on blade, clearly mounted c. 1680s, so these blades were circulating in Great Britain well through the 17th c.
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