A Fine Swept Hilt Italian Rapier with a Toledo Blade in its Original Scabbard.
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40” overall, 33 ½”, flattened diamond section double edged fullered blade incised to one side ‘FRANCISCO RUL’ & on the other ‘EN TOLEDO’, rectangular ricasso, steel hilt of round flattened bars, comprising a pair of short quillons swelling towards the terminals, a pair of arms, inner and outer guard each formed of two ring guards, the uppermost joining the base of the arm to the quillon and joined to the knuckle guard by an additional bar. Spirally fluted ovoid pommel, fine wire bound spirally fluted grip with Turk's heads,. Contained in its original leather wrapped wooden scabbard with steel chape.
Circa 1580.
In very good condition, scabbards of this age are remarkably rare.
See The Rapier and Small-Sword 1460-1820 by A.V.B. Norman