An Italian Swept Hilt Rapier. 46” overall, 37 ½” slender Toledo made blade of stiff diamond section stamped 'Francisco Ruiz' in the single fuller at the forte and ‘IN TE DOMINE SPERAVI’ [In thee, O Lord I Have Placed MY Hope’ ]. Swept hilt comprising a pair of round stell shell guards, with outer guard of three rings, inner guard formed of four swept round bars, ‘S’ shaped diagonally curved long quillons & joined to the knuckle guard by an additional bar. Spirally fluted ovoid pommel, fine wire bound spirally fluted grip with Turk's heads.
Circa 1580-1620
In good condition with clear signature.
Attributed to Francisco Ruiz the Elder (Spanish, Toledo, died after 1617), or his son. Francisco Ruiz the Younger (Spanish, Toledo, active first half of 17th century)