Interestingly, I've now seen four hilts and pommels of that EXACT design! You have two on your post (with the same word etched into the blade of both, in fact) and Czerny's auctioned off two others from the exact mold/maker - one with an iron/steel handle and a diamond cross-section blade, and another with a longer thinner blade. I've never seen the exact same hilt and pommel replicated like that except for some of the "Munich town guard" swords, and that other set of German rapiers that were made in batches.
So Czerny's has auctioned off three swords with the exact same hilt and pommel! Or at least made from the same mold. That's fascinating.
I like the inner sweep connecting the finger-rings, especially swept-forward. I do think that it helps reinforce the ring structure, while keeping a sideways flat-look to the sidesword (compared to a developed hilt on a rapier). But after I started using a Malleus Martialis's Marozzo (which has that simpler construction, without the inner sweep), and seeing how sturdy that is, I'm now thinking twice about this.
On the pommel, I remember at least two other museums having just that pommel as part of their collections. And considering composite swords out there, the original parts must have been made in quite high numbers (and they are simple, without gilded embellishments that we would expect for the higher class). Overall, I think we are underestimating the amount of duplication that must have taken place in those days, even though we know they had a certain level of mass production, like with the Venetian Arsenal. The Saxony Duke Elector Guard Rapiers and Munich Town Guard Swords are better examples of that, but they come quite later. One thing I like to do now is select a theme and dive in to find different pieces that match it. It's a fun way to explore collections. But it also makes me reassess my expectations on rarity in the process.
A few years ago, I have bought from an antique shop an early 1800s duelling rapier (which I'm calling as such, since I am sure it was made to satisfy the duelling craze around those times). It looks quite nice, so my biased expectation was that it's unique. In recent auctions, Czerny's sold a pair (with more rust on them, mine is better :) ) exactly like that. So I am not surprised that these type of items would find their ways to a place like Czerny's. And that goes double for Italian items.
That's kind, thank you as well. I want to write at some point about the pillars that support HEMA, how I see them (Scholar, Sparring, Sport, Supply) and how I position myself towards them. I want to talk a bit about the classification of swords and highlight some less considered perspectives. But with that out of my mind, short of quick posts about particular swords, I want to continue doing these post where I pick a theme and do a dive to find all the swords that fit in. And btw, yea, Italian museums are terrible at offering online resources, and they have the stuff I like by the castle loads (i.e. it changes one's perspective of what is and was rare and what was the norm).
Very nice - and I 98% agree with your top choice as the best sidesword model. My single addition to your choice would be to add a connecting section on the inside of the fore ring like the one on the Albion Marozzo (https://albion-swords.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/albion_marozzo_practice_sword_9824001405_o-1-1024x767.jpg) - or maybe a swept-forward design.)
Interestingly, I've now seen four hilts and pommels of that EXACT design! You have two on your post (with the same word etched into the blade of both, in fact) and Czerny's auctioned off two others from the exact mold/maker - one with an iron/steel handle and a diamond cross-section blade, and another with a longer thinner blade. I've never seen the exact same hilt and pommel replicated like that except for some of the "Munich town guard" swords, and that other set of German rapiers that were made in batches.
So Czerny's has auctioned off three swords with the exact same hilt and pommel! Or at least made from the same mold. That's fascinating.
I like the inner sweep connecting the finger-rings, especially swept-forward. I do think that it helps reinforce the ring structure, while keeping a sideways flat-look to the sidesword (compared to a developed hilt on a rapier). But after I started using a Malleus Martialis's Marozzo (which has that simpler construction, without the inner sweep), and seeing how sturdy that is, I'm now thinking twice about this.
On the pommel, I remember at least two other museums having just that pommel as part of their collections. And considering composite swords out there, the original parts must have been made in quite high numbers (and they are simple, without gilded embellishments that we would expect for the higher class). Overall, I think we are underestimating the amount of duplication that must have taken place in those days, even though we know they had a certain level of mass production, like with the Venetian Arsenal. The Saxony Duke Elector Guard Rapiers and Munich Town Guard Swords are better examples of that, but they come quite later. One thing I like to do now is select a theme and dive in to find different pieces that match it. It's a fun way to explore collections. But it also makes me reassess my expectations on rarity in the process.
A few years ago, I have bought from an antique shop an early 1800s duelling rapier (which I'm calling as such, since I am sure it was made to satisfy the duelling craze around those times). It looks quite nice, so my biased expectation was that it's unique. In recent auctions, Czerny's sold a pair (with more rust on them, mine is better :) ) exactly like that. So I am not surprised that these type of items would find their ways to a place like Czerny's. And that goes double for Italian items.
Awesome article, thank you!
That's kind, thank you as well. I want to write at some point about the pillars that support HEMA, how I see them (Scholar, Sparring, Sport, Supply) and how I position myself towards them. I want to talk a bit about the classification of swords and highlight some less considered perspectives. But with that out of my mind, short of quick posts about particular swords, I want to continue doing these post where I pick a theme and do a dive to find all the swords that fit in. And btw, yea, Italian museums are terrible at offering online resources, and they have the stuff I like by the castle loads (i.e. it changes one's perspective of what is and was rare and what was the norm).