Swept hilt rapier

urbanspaceman · 25th May 2021, 07:33 PM

I have a swept hilt rapier that has four vertical grooves in the grip that once contained metal strips.
Can anybody tell me what the metal strips are called? In any language.

fernando · 25th May 2021, 08:19 PM

barretas longitudinales de hierro, filetes longitudinais de ferro, vertical steel bands; you can even make your own

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Philip · 26th May 2021, 02:28 AM

The pics make me wonder if there were any strips at all in the recesses. I can't see where the ends of such strips would be secured, since there seems to be no logical points of attachment in the depth of the recesses. Personally I think that the longitudinal indentations, as is, would really help improve the user's grasp on the hilt.

Victrix · 26th May 2021, 07:30 AM

I agree with Philip and have had the same thoughts. If there had once been strips in the recesses there would have been empty spaces where they had been secured under the turk’s head knots. I have a 17thC Austrian felddegen with such recesses in the grip and no signs that they ever contained strips. I believe the recesses are simply to improve grip (especially in wet or gory conditions). My observation is that grips with recesses containing strips is typical for Iberian swords, and they are typically secured with ferrules rather than turk’s head knots.

fernando · 26th May 2021, 09:03 AM

You guys are obviuosly right. I was only focused, as requested, in the name of the bars (filets) that are usually placed in those recesses.

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urbanspaceman · 26th May 2021, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

You guys are obviuosly right. I was only focused, as requested, in the name of the bars (filets) that are ususly laced in those recesses.

Thank-you Fernando; barretas was the word I was looking for.
I have seen bars secured under Turk's Head Knots, but in the case of my sword, I agree, it was simply grooved to improve grip.
I do like the look of the grips with barretas though.
Perhaps they were an optional extra, abandoned when they kept falling out during vigorous manipulation but leaving the useful grooves in place.
I believe my sword is from the first quarter of the 16thC, so a work in progress possibly.

fernando · 26th May 2021, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victrix

... My observation is that grips with recesses containing strips is typical for Iberian swords, and they are typically secured with ferrules rather than turk’s head knots.

Indeed both the rapier i first showed as this one, which is no longer mine, are Iberian.

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Victrix · 26th May 2021, 07:12 PM

And here is my 17thC Austrian felddegen, sin barretas.

25th May 2021, 07:33 PM	#1
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 515	Swept hilt rapier I have a swept hilt rapier that has four vertical grooves in the grip that once contained metal strips. Can anybody tell me what the metal strips are called? In any language. Attached Images

26th May 2021, 09:03 AM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	You guys are obviuosly right. I was only focused, as requested, in the name of the bars (filets) that are usually placed in those recesses. . Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 26th May 2021 at 02:40 PM. Reason: spell

26th May 2021, 07:12 PM	#8
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 680	And here is my 17thC Austrian felddegen, sin barretas. Attached Images

25th May 2021, 08:19 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	barretas longitudinales de hierro, filetes longitudinais de ferro, vertical steel bands; you can even make your own .

26th May 2021, 02:28 AM	#3
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	The pics make me wonder if there were any strips at all in the recesses. I can't see where the ends of such strips would be secured, since there seems to be no logical points of attachment in the depth of the recesses. Personally I think that the longitudinal indentations, as is, would really help improve the user's grasp on the hilt.

26th May 2021, 07:30 AM	#4
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 680	I agree with Philip and have had the same thoughts. If there had once been strips in the recesses there would have been empty spaces where they had been secured under the turk’s head knots. I have a 17thC Austrian felddegen with such recesses in the grip and no signs that they ever contained strips. I believe the recesses are simply to improve grip (especially in wet or gory conditions). My observation is that grips with recesses containing strips is typical for Iberian swords, and they are typically secured with ferrules rather than turk’s head knots.