A distinguished German rapier with silver-damascened and gilt guard, circa 1610 The sturdy, double-edged blade of lenticular cross-section with a short ricasso, pitted in places. Shallow fullers on both sides of the upper third, struck with the signature "+GIO+KNEGT+ + IN+SOLINGEN+". Iron knuckle-bow hilt with straight quillons, arms of the guard on the obverse with an openwork guard plate. The front with silver-inlaid tendrils and floral decoration in relief, all inside and rear surfaces fire-gilt, abraded in places. Original grip with chequered, braided silver wire winding and Turk's heads. The oval pommel with six grooves and lavish silver damascening, the fullers gilt. Length 120.5 cm. The deluxe weapon of courtly provenance. Comparable pieces can be found in the Wallace Collection in London, for example (A 555 and A 557) and in the former Dreger collection in Berlin, auctioned by Fischer in 1912, lot 86. Condition: II