Toledo Rapier Info

mariusgmioc · 24th February 2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Nice sword.
A bit of a problem though ... a most usual one.
The name Heinrich is German and so not consistent with Toledo. However Bracho may be Spanish ... although not known as a Toledo sword smith, i would say.
Could this be a Solingen blade ?

Yes, Heinrich is a Germanic name, but BRACHO is a typical Spanish surname... just to add more to the mystery.

cornelistromp · 25th February 2016, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Yes, Heinrich is a Germanic name, but BRACHO is a typical Spanish surname... just to add more to the mystery.

Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.

mariusgmioc · 25th February 2016, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Very interesting! Then maybe BRACHO is the "spanicized" version of the name, to justify the "Toledo" inscription.

Thank you very much!

fernando · 25th February 2016, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

... Then maybe BRACHO is the "spanicized" version of the name, to justify the "Toledo" inscription. ..

Precisely; to attract Spanish clientele

.
But it takes Jasper to get these things clear

.

mariusgmioc · 25th February 2016, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

Brach is a famous sword maker family from Solingen from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!

Jim McDougall · 25th February 2016, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!

His intuitions are nearly invariably right!!!! Actually Fernando knows 'a thing or two' about cuphilts!!! "

This example reminded me of Heinrich Koll, aka Enrique Koll or Coll, who was a Solingen swordsmith who indeed did go to Toledo to work. There were a number of others as well.

fernando · 25th February 2016, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... His intuitions are nearly invariably right!!!! Actually Fernando knows 'a thing or two' about cuphilts!!! "

...

Then i feel compelled to say that you know quite a few things beyond

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...This example reminded me of Heinrich Koll, aka Enrique Koll or Coll, who was a Solingen swordsmith who indeed did go to Toledo to work...

Ah Master Coll; apparently this one also managed to introduce his 'trade mark' in Portugal.

cornelistromp · 25th February 2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Excellent!

Based on your feedback I ran a search and found out in

"Historische Waffen und Kostueme, Band 1: Waffensammlung Dreger" by De Gruyter a reference to a HEINRICH BRACH of Solingen, active between 1661-1725.

I guess this might be my guy.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

PS: Fernando, your intuition was right!

very good! btw your rapier hilt is indeed Spanish. Blade can be of Solingen manufacture or as it says Toledo. some Solingen sword smiths went to Spain.
I believe Johannes Brach did this around 1625 ! maybe his father, I have to check this later because my books are stored for the moment.

best,
Jasper

ulfberth · 25th February 2016, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

very good! btw your rapier hilt is indeed Spanish. Blade can be of Solingen manufacture or as it says Toledo. some Solingen sword smiths went to Spain.
I believe Johannes Brach did this around 1625 ! I have to check this later.
My books are stored for the moment.

best,
Jasper

LS,

The story goes that two rapiers as a pair signed Johannes Brach and En Toledo were in the collection of Czar Alexander III
Sword makers used the name Brach to ad the value of swords for the Spanish market.
A very nice sword indeed , I like the model, nice old patina and no doubt all parts are original and belong together

kind regards

Ulfberth

mariusgmioc · 25th February 2016, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

very good! btw your rapier hilt is indeed Spanish. Blade can be of Solingen manufacture or as it says Toledo. some Solingen sword smiths went to Spain.
I believe Johannes Brach did this around 1625 ! maybe his father, I have to check this later because my books are stored for the moment.

best,
Jasper

Now that's really something!

So I may have a Spanish rapier ...
with a blade made in Toledo ...
by German swordsmith ...
from a famous Solingen swordsmiths' family...
who may have travelled to Toledo to perfect his art...
if I got it right.

Wow! Quite a story!
I find fascinating the idea of a swordsmith travelling all the way from Solingen to Toledo, just to learn new secrets and perfect his skill.

Thank you!

PS: Any way the blade is surprinsingly strong and elastic for its age and I believe it is complete to the tip. Also all fittings share the same patina, consistent with a 17th century sword and are stronly bound together. So I suspect the sword is pretty much in its original condition.

fernando · 25th February 2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

... I find fascinating the idea of a swordsmith travelling all the way from Solingen to Toledo, just to learn new secrets and perfect his skill...

Maybe not for learning but for trying to make a few extra pesetas with a better paid job. I guess Solingen smiths had nothing new to learn in Toledo, but the Spaniards were larger consumers, due to period expansion

.

mariusgmioc · 25th February 2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Maybe not for learning but for trying to make a few extra pesetas with a better paid job. I guess Solingen smiths had nothing new to learn in Toledo, but the Spaniards were larger consumers, due to period expansion

.

This is an interesting point, as Solingen was also a well established centre of excellence in swords making.

But then why not simply make the blades in Solingen and market them in Spain, as it is the case with many Spanish rapiers bearing Solingen made blades?!

However, we may stir now a debate whether Heinrich Brach traveled to Spain to perfect his skill or to boost his sales... while he might have traveled to Spain because he just wanted a sunny holiday and was fed up with German weather.