A cup hilt rapier

[Chris Evans]

Fernando,

Thanks for the measurement.

Originally Posted by fernando

Sorry Chris .
I have an amateur manner to measure blades as from the cup bowl .
87,5 cms from the quillons. Still not so long, but there are no signs of it having being shortened.

This morning, our time, I thought I posted a reply, but it appears to have vanished, so here I go again:

That length corresponds to a transition rapier, intermediary between the classic long rapier and the later small sword. If my recollection is right, Castle told us that the cup hilted transition rapier was still in use in Spain, (Portugal?) during the 18th century - Though probably not in refined circles, as the Spanish Bourbons affected French customs and by that time the small sword superseded the rapier in France.

So your sword either pertains to the transitional period or was made for a man of very small stature, a child perhaps.

Cheers
Chris