Spanish Broadsword Cuphilt

[Korisios]

Just found a very cool Spanish Broadsword Cuphilt here and here.

As some one stated "the broad blade would be typical of Carribean type cup hilts.."

...or is it a fake all together...?

Edited May 3, 2010 by Korisios

[Korisios]

...and one more of this type here...

[Captain Midnight]

The sword shown in the second link is beautiful...

[callenish gunner]

That is an accurate type sword for the early Carribean rapier sword. It was a transitional type sword between the heavy battle swords of the early renaissance and the exploration and empire periods of Spanish blades.

[MarkG]

That is an accurate type sword for the early Carribean rapier sword. It was a transitional type sword between the heavy battle swords of the early renaissance and the exploration and empire periods of Spanish blades.

The Spanish continued using a version of the rapier, long after everyone else in the world had abandoned them. They also had a reputation as Europe's best swordsmen. Their version of fencing involved the magic circle where angles within the circle are used multiple ways for posture and spacing. One theory about their prowess is that all of the practice needed to master the magic circle is what made them so good.

This is probably one of those late rapiers.

The Mask of Zorro refers to the magic circle a few times. It is also a plot point in an episode of Highlander.

[Korisios]

More cuphilt pictures from the Antigua Guatemala historical museum.

Cheers!

[Privateer Armoury]

Those picture from the Antigua Guatemala historical museum are amazing, thanks for posting them.

From what I have seen and read about the sword in the original post it seems to be authentic.

It was relatively common for broadswords to be mounted in stylish rapier style hilts as the broadsword with its heavier cutting blade was better suited to the battlefield/deck than the true rapier which was designed more for personal combat.