A Very Fine Transitional Rapier with Walloon Hilt. 40” overall, 34” slender blade of flattened hexagonal section merging into diamond form. With a wide tapering pierced fuller stamped with maker’s name ‘Meves Berns’. Walloon hilt of chiselled bronze, the knuckle guard, large globular pommel & rear quillon ensuite, flat sided grip bound with blackened copper wire.
Circa 1630-50.
A high quality officer’s sword in very good condition.
Meves Berns was a German/Prussian sword smith. who worked in Solingen between 1590 and 1650.
For the bladesmith's mark see Albert Weyersberg, Solinger Schwertschmiede Des 16. Und 17. Jahrhunderts Und Ihre Erzeugnisse..., 1926, p. 11, figs. 6