Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an impressive original German or Germanic mid-to-late 16th-century double-edged sword with a developed swept hilt, combining the broad cutting blade of the earlier longsword tradition with the increasingly elaborate hand protection associated with the Renaissance side-sword and early rapier. The sword has a swept hilt and thick leather-wrapped grip with a bulge denoting where the user’s two hands would be held. There is a small groove intentionally made on one side of the blade at the ricasso, showing us that the index finger of the right hand is meant to sit in the blade groove while the bottom of this hand sits at the bulge. The left hand is then meant to tightly wrap around the pommel for a sturdy two-handed grip. The hilt is designed to protect the right hand from sword strikes, making this an interesting variation with characteristics from both a rapier and broadsword.

The hilt is constructed from wrought iron and incorporates an elaborate series of curved bars surrounding the hand. This developed swept-hilt arrangement reflects the major changes taking place in European sword design during the 16th century, as increasingly complex guards were added to protect the fingers and knuckles while allowing finer control of the blade.

Comparable German swords of approximately 1560–1580 survive in the Wallace Collection with double-edged blades, side rings, finger and thumb guards, knuckle bows, and cage-like protective hilts. One German example attributed to Munich swordsmith Ulrich Diefstetter, dating about 1560–1580, measures approximately 41 inches overall and combines a broad double-edged blade with double side rings and dedicated finger and thumb guards.

As mentioned, the hilt material is wrought iron, which is very evident from the way it has aged. There are several cracks and apparent delamination along the stylized arms. The handguard is not very close to the pommel on this example, likely due to its requirement of being two-handed. This is evident in the visible bulge in the wrapped leather grip, which indicates where the user’s hands are meant to be seated when wielding the sword. Likewise, the small finger groove cut into the blade is meant to show the user where his index finger should be for the best possible grip. The pommel is shaped in the common scrollwork style seen during this period, and the guard pieces show a similar tooling though it is much more faded on the thinner guard pieces. The blade is entirely tight to the hilt without any play. As mentioned there are some cracks in the wrought iron guard pieces, but nothing structurally alarming.

The sword has a swept-hilt guard often seen on rapiers, with the overall construction of a broadsword. The 33 ⅜” blade is double-edged and roughly 1 ½” wide at the widest point. A prominent central raised medial ridge runs along the length of the blade on both faces. The blade gradually loses width toward the tip, and there is some moderate edge-nicking toward the tip, with some minor delamination as well, but much of this looks to be period damage, perhaps from enemy sword strikes. There is heavy oxidation peppering across the blade, with the worst of it being seen at the ricasso and the tip. The overall length is 40”.

This is a tremendous well-preserved example of an intriguing variation of German two-handed rapier with several broadsword qualities. This example is particularly noteworthy for its 33⅜-inch broad double-edged blade, raised medial ridge, complex swept iron hilt, surviving leather-wrapped grip, faceted decorated pommel, and unusual depression at the ricasso associated with the forward-finger gripping area. It will fit well as the centerpiece of any collection of early European swords.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 33 3/8"
Blade Style: Broad Rapier
Overall length: 40“
Crossguard: 5 1/4”