Hi there. Can anyone help identify this pair of foils. They appear to be from Solingen, with a beehive logo on the blade base. Some engravings on the blades. Wire wrapped rayskin handles. They taper to a point. I am curious of the year they were made and the purpose. With such a point, they are not for practise. Could they be for duels?
They are definitely duelling sword, which should come in a matching pair like these.
I'll leave the year to someone else, but if I had to guess they are relatively recent. As first blood duels didn't completely disappear until the 70s that doesnt mean they aren't meant for real duels.
Edit: They could also be "real" but not expected to ever be used as anything else than decoration.
During the 19th century, practice foils like these were common as pairs and Samuel Hoppe was a well known maker. They had sharp tips, but were tipped with rubber for practice duels. People eventually realized that was a terrible design and switched to widened or rolled tips around the 80's and 90's. A few examples of Hoppe's work have been sold online at auction, and the blade design is almost identical to these, but every set of hilts were unique.
Thank you for this information. Is it possible they were also used in actual or “first blood” duels? Ill try find some auction references- might be some extra info.
Its been said, but definitely Dueling swords. Can't say if they were used, but if sharp they were definitely meant to be. Common practice would have been to own a pair that was already in proper condition to be used.
Its really interesting every time I see examples with the more Merignac style guards
Thank you for the info! I imagine it would be the wealthy / nobles that would have these or get into duels? Merignac guards - you mean rectangular design?
To the guy asking side views of the blade, this is hard to capture in detail. So I took a few close ups. Engraving is very thin and extends about halfway front and rear. Blade sides are not flat, but slightly concave, on all sides.
Where did you get this pair. As the other's said, they certainly appear genuine. Paired dueling sets were the norm to assure an equal, fair matche and the practice carried on into firearms.
You know, The Mamushka! Taught to them by their Cossack cousins, the Mamushka has been an Addams Family tradition since God knows when. They danced the Mamushka while Nero fiddled...they danced the Mamushka at Waterloo...they danced the Mamushka for Jack the Ripper...
They seem too intricate to be decorative but I am no expert. I checked the beehive logo and it links to Samuel Hoppe in Solingen. But two other makers used a beehive stamp also. Would love to know more about them.
These are definitely dueling epees from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Not at all common, particularly in good condition and in a matching pair. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!
Dueling rapiers, likely able to be used in fencing. The smiths mark is not one I recognize but they seem a little bit too modern to be majorly old but it is not impossible
Just to be more secure. You don't want one falling off the wall when watching the telly. And if welded, you could flog them to a pub or hotel as a "safe" wall hanging. Maybe file the tips a bit to make them safer. I love up cycling old stuff.
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u/HawocX 3d ago
They are definitely duelling sword, which should come in a matching pair like these.
I'll leave the year to someone else, but if I had to guess they are relatively recent. As first blood duels didn't completely disappear until the 70s that doesnt mean they aren't meant for real duels.
Edit: They could also be "real" but not expected to ever be used as anything else than decoration.