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This is the regulation cavalry bilbo of the Spanish army, introduced in 1728 and worn right up to the early years of the Napoleonic wars. This is the last Hurrah of the rapier, other than the privately made gentlemen's swords of the same period. The blade (31.5 inches long) has had considerable wear and the inscription on both sides is not easily legible, but would appear to be essentially intact. The hilt has been stripped down and cleaned some years ago and a coat of black Shelac varnish has been applied to the inner side of the guard. There is a pinprick engraving on the smaller inside guard, which could be the name of a man or the unit. |