Christopher Columbus' 'fencing' sword

[Ben Floyd]

columbus sword.png (71.11 KiB) Viewed 576 times

Creation Date: early sixteenth century
Materials: .Dimensions: 138.0 cm
RCIN 67462
Reference(s):
Laking AA 54

Provenance: Presented by Sir Thomas Dyer 12 August 1793, said to be the sword of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). Dyer was twice sent to missions of Spanish nationalists.
Description: Bastard fencing sword; black painted steel hilt with pommel, quillons and square ends. Plain straight double-edged blade of flat diamond-section. One face of ricasso cut with diagonals. Belonged to Christopher Columbus.

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It's presentation date makes me suspicious, honestly. 1793 is a long way from Columbus' time.

Also, at 138cm it's a big boy. I'd also like to see the rest of it including the vital stats like weight etc. Anyone ever seen this before, or even better yet, in person?

[admin]

Fascinating, I have never seen or heard of that sword before. Looking at it, it could certainly date to the correct time. I wonder why this association with Columbus is not more widely known?

[Ben Floyd]

I forgot to include the link: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/colle ... cing-sword

[Thearos]

Is ""Laking AA"

Laking's catalogue of arms and armour in the Wallace Collection ??

[admin]

Laking is this chap - he wrote loads of articles about arms and armour:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Francis_Laking

This sword is apparently kept at Buckingham Palace.

[Thearos]

Could it then be in

The armoury of Windsor castle. European section. (Roy. coll.).
Laking, Guy Francis sir, 2nd bart.
1904 |

[Ariella Elema]

Could it then be in

The armoury of Windsor castle. European section. (Roy. coll.).
Laking, Guy Francis sir, 2nd bart.
1904 |

There does seem to be a reference.

[Magnus Hagelberg]

ooh. nice reference.
do you think it holds anny truth?
that the sword recieved a new handle?
that pommel and cross is indeed not balanced propperly for the blade?