This superb and rare, second quarter of the 17th century rapier has formed part of a top UK collection and is in what can only be described as beautiful 'museum condition'. The hilt style follows that of the hilt type 99 as featured in A.V.B. Norman's reference book: "The Rapiers and Small-Swords". 
With a long, slender, flattened diamond section blade measuring 40 ½ inches (103 cm) incised with the name of the famous German sword cutler - 'CASPAR MAINS HOFER' (17th century Hounslow Sword Factory, London, cutler) within the fuller on both sides of the blade.
Iron guard of strongly fluted bars, hollow-ground flared quillons with button terminals, vestiges of a leather cover to the ricasso, hollow-ground D shaped knuckle guard, shallow dish-guard having a scalloped rim and pierced with numerous small lining points, the outer surface embossed and incised with a radiating scale pattern, later wire bound grip with 'Turk's heads' and a reeded/fluted, droplet ovoid iron pommel. Collection disc number 28.
Provenance:
Ex-collection of Clive Madgin.
Ex-Christies 2014
Ex-Sotherbys 2004
Price: £3,450 plus posting costs.