A GERMAN RAPIER, THIRD QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY with long blade of flattened-hexagonal section, stamped with the sacred monogram 'IHS' between a series of decorative marks within a short fuller on each face, rectangular ricasso stamped with the letter S and a mullet on each side, steel hilt of faceted rounded bars, comprising a pair of horizontally recurved quillons swelling towards the terminals, upper and lower ring-guards each swelling in the centre and joined by a pair of arms, trifurcated inner-guard joined to the quillon-block by a thumb-loop, faceted spherical pommel, and early grip bound with plaited wire and 'Turk's heads' 109cm; 42 7/8in blade This form of hilt is frequently encountered on estocs and is the same type as the last lot 153. An almost identical sword signed 'Maillant' and stamped with the same marks on the ricasso is preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds. See A.R.Dufty 1974, p.18, plate 21d.