Early 17th century AD. A rapier of Pappenheimer type with pointed double-edged blade with short fullers, the ricasso with a maker's mark in the shape of a crown; double basket-hilt with openwork hand protector, an additional reinforcement ring to the lower part of the hilt, grip with original wooden core, pear-shaped pommel. See Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Nickel, H., Pyhrr, S.W., Tarassuk, The Art of Chivalry. European Arms and Armour from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1982; Whiters, H.J.S., The illustrated encyclopedia of Swords and sabres, Witston, 2011; Vello, M. & Tonin F., I grandi spadai Feltrini e Bellunesi (Master Swordsmiths of Feltre and Belluno), Roma, 2017. 1.8 kg, 1.1m (43 1/4"). Provenance: From a private family collection; previously acquired from a collection formed before 1990; thence by descent; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This type of sword was probably an evolution of the Type XVIIIe of Oakeshott's typology (1994, pp.72ff.) having as its main characteristic a long and narrow blade generally with a long (5–6) ricasso narrower than the blade itself, and the pommel of pear form. Oakeshott correctly recognised that this typology was the origin of rapiers, probably of Italian or Spanish creation. The name rapier derives from the Spanish term espada ropera (sword of the robes), meaning it could be worn with civilian clothing. This is why the rapier is associated with the image of the Renaissance gentleman. However, this weapon was specifically designed for military use.