Original Item: One of a Kind. This came to us included in a Collection of early European edged weapons. It measures 39″ overall length with the “diamond” cross section blade measuring 35″. The blade has one deep fuller down each side just above the ricasso, and it is marked:-
IOHANNES MORS BACH
down one side and on the other side it is marked:
EN ALMANIA SOLINGEN
Solingen is today called the “City of Blades” today, due to a blacksmith and blade making history going back well into the first millennium CE. Many famous blade makers have been situated there since the 15th century, when it became a fortified town.
The entire hilt is absent, only the decorated iron pommel remains.
At first glance we assumes this to date from the late 16th or early 17th Century, however the crispness of the tang and rear shoulders of the blade would indicate
either being totally unused or a later manufacture date. Possibly it was going to be re-hilted later, but the project was abandoned.
Nevertheless this is a great looking item that if original to the period and complete would be a weapon commanding many thousands of Dollars . So offered, as what you see to be a great restoration project.