War Rapier, Horseman's Sword, Degen, Circa 1600

This sword can be classified as war rapier, or cavalry sword, depending on the authors. It is fromGermanic manufacture, and dates from the first quarter of the 17th century.
 BLADE: It has a lenticular section, in good condition, with two edges which are still very sharp. On each side, 12 cm from the guard, we find a punchmark depicting a bearded man looking to the left, which according to certain authors, could be one of the primitive versions of the "Moor's head" hallmark by Andreas Munsten (who worked in Solingen and Toledo) without being able to certify it.
Blade length = 81.5 cm, width near the guard = 3.5 cm, thickness near the guard = 4.7 mm, balance point = 5 cm from the guard.
GUARD: This is a beautiful guard, in a very unusual shape. We are halfway between the upset quillon guards typical of the 16th century and the multiple branch guards of the mid-17th century.
Two so-called "contrary" quillons, that is to say with reversed curvature, form the base of the guard, with two large rings to protect the hand. A main knuckle branch goes up towards the pommel without being fixed there. Four secondary branches or arms  join the external ring to this knuckle guard. POMMEL : It is ovoid in shape, and presents 4 oval medallions in relief which are decorated with diamonds which are the coat of arms of the house of Wittelsbach, whose lineage is at the origin of the duchy/electorate of Bavaria
GRIP : It is made of wood covered in leather, with a double wire binding  of twisted iron.
It is a beautiful sword, of an unusual model, which should find a special place in a collection of Haute Epoque bladed weapons.
Ref AM-2440