Toledo Pillow Rapier, Circa 1600

It is a so-called "pillow" rapier which, strictly speaking, was placed at the bedside to allow its owner to have a weapon on hand in the event of a nocturnal attack. In a broader sense, the so-called "pillow" rapier is a short rapier, whose hilt is almost always small, which made it possible to discreetly have a weapon at hand, for main use indoors, where the long blades of the rapiers of the time would have been inconvenient.
This weapon is completely original and has apparently never been dismantled.
The geometric characteristics of the blade and the typology of the mount allow us to attribute an early date to this weapon, last quarter of the 16th century or first quarter of the 17th century.
BLADE: This is a rapier blade that begins with a very short heel or ricasso, which shows that the blade is in its original length and is not a shortenened one. The blade is thin and solid, its section is not diamond-shaped, but has 4 hollow sides, according to the so-called "gull wing" shape. This profile increased the strength of the blade and required high-level expertise from the swordsmith, especially in the case of a narrow blade like here. This type of work is therefore the sign of a quality forge. It is much less common than the more or less flattened diamond-shaped sections that we usually encounter.
A deep fuller occupies the center of the first third of the blade. We can read there, although the letters are a little worn: XX E N T O L E D O  X with the particular graphics of the letters "E" and "D" which is characteristic of authentic Toledan inscriptions from the 1600s.
These blades were called "verduguillo" (from verdugo = executioner/executor) we can compare it with certain works of Tomas de Ayala, or Francisco Ruiz "el viejo" (= the elder) which present a very similar geometry.
Consult, for example, the work of Mr Vicente Toldo Montparler, available online.
Length of the blade = 74.5 cm, Width at the heel = 1.7 cm Thickness at the heel = 9mm
GUARD: It is a cross guard, of modest size, with so-called "contariated" quillons, that is to say they have opposite curvature. The plane is perpendicular to the axis of the blade, and curved in relation to the plane of its width, the cross therefore forms a shallow "S", as on certain Italian swords from the 16th century. This type of sober guard is of an early form, the use of which disappeared in the last years of the 16th century, replaced by mounts which were intended to be more elegant.
 POMMEL : it is in the shape of an elongated olive, topped with a button on which the tang of the blade is riveted.
GRIP : It is twisted, and covered with the original twisted iron wirebinding. The ferrules in the shape of braided crowns called "Turk's heads" are present and in excellent condition.

This sword is therefore interesting for the quality of its blade, the signature which allows us to locate it in space, and its archaic mount which allows us to locate it in time. It is obvious that any collection of rapiers must include a so-called “pillow ” or “indoor” model. Why not this one ? ...
REF B-2444
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