A SAXON RAPIER, CIRCA 1580
in excavated condition, with long slender blade of flattened-diamond section for its upper third, the remainder of flattened-hexagonal section and formed with a short fuller on each face, tapering ricasso, iron hilt of delicately fluted bars comprising écusson, lower ring-guard retaining a portion of a pierced sprung-in plate, forward-curled quillon with spatulate terminal (bent), a pair of arms joined by the outer ring-guard, knuckle-guard, inner guard of two slender bars, and fluted bun-shaped pommel, and the tang retaining a single shaped iron collar for the top of the grip
105.3 cm; 41 ½ in blade

Rapiers of this form were made for officers of the Saxon Electoral Guard. Two rapiers with plain hilts of this form were included in the Sotheby's sale from the Saxon Royal Collections, 23 March 1970, lots 30 and 32. See Norman 1980, pp. 128-9