TIZONA - Spanish cup-hilt rapier (17th century)

"Tizona"  is a recreation of a beautiful 17th century Spanish Cup-Hilt rapier, inspired by specimens in the fine collection of Spanish Renaissance Rapier in New York Metropolitan Museum of Arts and other collections.  

Name after one of the famous sword carried by Spanish national hero El Cid Campeador, Tizona is an agile and light rapier optimized for thrusting.

This is another exacting recreation that LK Chen has taken on, with valuable input from experts in the details of its floral pattern cup hilt decoration and construction such as the braiding of the elaborate "Turkish  head" wire knots in the hilt. 

Specification

Approximations only, all measurements subject to slight variation for each swords

Total length: 118.2 cm (46.54")

Blade length from cup: 100 cm (39.37")

Hilt length (handle & pommel: 18.2 cm (7.17")

Total Weight: 1120 grams (2 lb. 7.51 oz)

Point of Balance (from cup hilt): 40 mm (1.57")

Blade width:

At hand guard: 18 mm

At 5 mm from tip: 8 mm 

Blade thickness:

At hand guard: 6.6 mm

Near tip: 2.5 mm

Blade Profile

Rectangular by cup hilt, transition to hexagonal until 20 cm from cup, finally transition to diamond shape to tip.  

Fuller in first 20 cm of the blade.

Steel  GB 60Si2MnA   

High Carbon Manganese Spring Steel (Compare to AISI/SAE 5160 spring steel)   

Element %       60Si2MnA    AISI/SAE 5160   

Carbon            0.56-0.64      0.56-0.61  

Silicon              1.60-2.00       0.15-0.35  

Manganese     0.60-0.90      0.75-1.00  

Phosphorus     <=0.030        <=0.035  

Sulfur               <=0.030        <=0.040  

Chromium       <=0.35          0.70-0.90  

Nickel               <=0.35          <=0.25    

Hardness 52-54 HRC.   

Medium to Low firing and through quenching for hardness   

Fittings  

Hand guard and pommel:  Stainless Steel  

Handle  wrap: Steel wire wrapped around a sculptural synthetic core with  "Turkish head" wire knots decorated on both end of the handle.

Scabbard :  Black fine top grain leather over wood core

Scabbard chape:  Stainless Steel