A Rare Saxon Estoc, Late 16th Century

With bright sharply tapering double-edged blade robustly formed with a slender medial ridge over its entire length on both sides, the outer side towards the forte with two latten-inlaid saltire marks, the base of the blade with elliptical iron mount fitting over the mouth of the scabbard and engraved in wrigglework on one side with two florets above a raised roped lower edge, iron hilt retaining traces of original blacking and comprising guard with slightly arched quillons with flattened triangular terminals, outer side-rings and inner diagonal bar en suite, arms, fig-shaped pommel of octagonal section incised with pairs of lines along the angles, compressed button finial, and blackened shagreen-covered grip with line engraved cusped foliate ferrules and slender longitudinal reinforcing bars
108.2 cm. blade

Provenance
The Saxon Electoral Armouries, Dresden
Christie's London, Fine Antique Arms And Armour..., 24 May 2006, lot 1

A very similar estoc was included in the sale Parzellane und Waffen aus der Kgl. Sächsischen Sammlungen in Dresden held by Rudolph Lepke Kunst-auctions, Berlin, 7-8 October 1919, lot 553

Cf. another example in the Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art, no. 351