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A good example of a type which evolved about 1645 in response to changing social customs and swordsmanship and remained popular for about a generation. It has a fine 19 5/8” blade of diamond section. The iron hilt is boldly chiseled with flower buds and foliage.  Fine silver wire-wrapped grip. A substantial weapon clearly intended to meet an attack in the streets. Such attacks were usually clandestine and with a knife, making the compact proportions of this weapon ideally suited for the counter-attack. Known to collectors, as pillow swords in recent years, they were more likely known to their owners as scarf swords. Norman discusses this and the method in which they were worn in The Rapier and Smallsword 1460-1820, Norman, page 186. Its contemporaries in Northern Europe were the transitional rapiers and occasional dish-hilted rapier. Smaller than either, it was able to be worn in social settings where the larger weapons were prohibited. Size, and thus weight, which in motion equates to inertia was always balanced against agility. In this weapon, the choice is for the latter.
Stock Number: B4379

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