Swiss Sabre

cornelistromp · 28th April 2015, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockwork

I was told by the dealer it was from 1700 and that it came out of a private collection. From the research that I have done the blades did fall out of favor in the early 1700s but I cannot find pics of those models. The most common one I come across is the 1530 variant.

sorry to say but the dealer is mistaken, the type of your sword is of the last quarter of the 16th century.
you can't find any pictures, in art or museums giving you a date around 1700, because this type no longer existed in 1700!

there are 1 1/2 hand swiss sabers of another type to find in the 17th century, these are mainly the of lion head pommel type. see pictures, nr 315.
In the second half of the 17th century the swiss 1 1/2 hand saber disappears completely.

may not be applicable to your purchase but in general, especially with dealers, I would not settle for provenance "a private collection ", a noble family who wishes to remain secret e.g.
but would like to have the name of the collector.

if you have received the details you can verify e.g. provenance with him also.

best,

broadaxe · 29th April 2015, 10:23 PM

I agree with Jasper, this saber is totally out of context to the 18th c. and is much earlier. The distinctive pronged pommel and matching bars of the cross guard are good signs of the 16th c. however the presence of a well-developped thumb ring may date the hilt into the (early) 17th c.

CSinTX · 29th April 2015, 11:55 PM

In my somewhat uneducated opinion, the blade appears to be 19th century to me. I could be wrong though.

fernando · 30th April 2015, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dafunky1

In my somewhat uneducated opinion, the blade appears to be 19th century to me. I could be wrong though.

Not so difficult to follow your impression, when looking twice to it. I wonder why Jasper has not commented on that possibility.
Not that Tony would like the idea, though

AHorsa · 30th April 2015, 05:03 PM

What happened to the cross-guard on the 2nd picture of the 1st entry??

I agree with your doubts concerning the blade. As the riveting looks unopened and the condition is fitting to the rest of the sword, I think we should discuss the possibility that this is a piece from the Historism/19th century.

29th April 2015, 10:23 PM	#2
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	I agree with Jasper, this saber is totally out of context to the 18th c. and is much earlier. The distinctive pronged pommel and matching bars of the cross guard are good signs of the 16th c. however the presence of a well-developped thumb ring may date the hilt into the (early) 17th c.

29th April 2015, 11:55 PM	#3
CSinTX Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 233	In my somewhat uneducated opinion, the blade appears to be 19th century to me. I could be wrong though.

30th April 2015, 05:03 PM	#5
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 375	What happened to the cross-guard on the 2nd picture of the 1st entry?? I agree with your doubts concerning the blade. As the riveting looks unopened and the condition is fitting to the rest of the sword, I think we should discuss the possibility that this is a piece from the Historism/19th century.