Rapier With Chiseled Branch Mount. Blade By Klemens Munsten 17th Century

Branch rapier with a fully chiseled mount, dating from the first half of the 17th century. Blade by Clemens (Klemens) Munsten am Wirsberg, who worked in Solingen between 1598 and 1645. Sworsmith from the same family as Andreas Munsten and Peter Munsten. The blade is in Germanic style, and the mount corresponds to the taste of the time, influenced by Italian rapiers. The general condition of this weapon is excellent.
BLADE = after a long ricasso, it takes on a narrow diamond-shaped section. At the level of the ricasso, we find on each face the mark of the M surmounted by a K which corresponds to the monogram of Klemens Munsten.
On the external face, we find the inscription KLEMENS (-wolf of Passau-) MUNSTEN. The silhouette of the wolf corresponds to the representations known at that time.
On the inner face, we find ME FECIT (-wolf of Passau-) SOLINGEN
The blade is particularly sharp.
Length of the blade = from the quillons = 104 cm, from the ricasso = 97 cm, Width at the beginning of the edges = 1.7 cm, thickness at the ricasso = 6 mm. The balance of the weapon is excellent since the point of balance is right at the junction ricasso-beginning of the cuting edges
GUARD : It is a branch guard so by definition quite complex. Two main rings on the outer face, two very large "donkey steps" (= arms)  most likely intended to allow the grip by a swordsman wearing gloves. Two flat quillons counter-curved in the plane of the blade. All these elements are decorated with finely chiseled plant motifs.
POMMEL : It has 8 facets, in the shape of a "chalice". All the facets are chiseled. The pommel is topped with a button on which the tang of the blade is riveted.
GRIP :it is twisted, covered with a double iron wire binding, mounted in chevrons, to which is added a second double binding of larger section which follows the hollow of the twists of the handle. The ferrules turk's heads crowns are present.
This weapon was obviously designed to be used, as shown by its remarkable balance when held in the hand. It is not a military rapier, but an elegant civilian model, in the Italian style, although it is indisputably Germanic. The state of preservation is remarkable.
Ref FX-25-70
Shipping costs France 30 €, Europe 40 €