VERY FINE DUTCH ARMING SWORD

c. 1630–1670 NETHERLANDS

An unusually fine short sword with wide blade marked SAHAGOM and the Passau wolf. The handle is with one pierced kidney plate and two guards arched towards the sides of the trumpet shaped (conical frustum) pommel. Guards are connected to the pommel with chains. Grip is bound with twisted wire. Handle has been chiseled with floral patterns and engraved. Pierced plate has several small square holes punched through.

It is very unusual to have decorative chains connecting guards to the pommel for this period of sword. Normally chained guards were popular for hunting hangers and later in small swords.

Our sword has a SAHAGOM marking, maker’s mark P with crown and what seems to be special is the coat of arms of the city Amsterdam.

We are not guessing the P-maker as there are several possibilities. Many times, makermarks were copied and recycled which makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact maker. The Amsterdam city mark seems to be correct and shows us maybe the arsenal where the sword was staying or adaption for city use. Later on Amsterdam walloon swords were marked with a flower.

The quality of this sword and its unusual construction is high above any regular standards of infantry swords and that makes us believe it was a single high-quality order or a very small group of swords made for some special unit or guard.

Remarkably fine condition. Museum grade object.

• Total length 104 cm
• Blade length 91 cm