Possible Rapier or Dagger

Bottlemanstx · Nov 24, 2008

Hello Everyone,

I think I may found a Rapier or dagger on Sunday morning. I decided to test another site this morning and after a few hours of pennies, nails, fishing hooks, lures and one 10K gold ring, there was that undeniable beep in my headphones. I new the target was going to be deep and so I prepared myself for a few calculated cuss words while attempting to dig this out. After 2-3' of digging with the water coming in every so often I pulled up what I think to be a rapier/dagger? The handle part appears to have grooves for grip and where the conglomeration of sand, shells and lord knows what else there does appear to be some solid metal in this area. Any suggestions or possible theories as to what this may be would be great.

Thanks

ivan salis · Nov 24, 2008

sweet find

godisnum1 · Nov 24, 2008

I'd love to see it after electrolysis... thanks for posting!!

Bran <><

GuerillaBill · Nov 24, 2008

That looks almost exactly like the one I dug at Turtle Trails two weeks ago. It was down 3 feet - and took a lot of effort to get out.

I took it by the museum and they said it looked authentic, but no one there was an expert.

Yours look like it is in a little better condition than the one I found. But they look to be the same size, shape and same amount of corrosion.

I had expected to see flaking of metal on the sword part, but was told that the sword was probably heat treated and would not flake.

Congrats on your find!

I hope it is worth a ton of money . . .

Bill

Bottlemanstx · Nov 24, 2008

GuerillaBill said:
That looks almost exactly like the one I dug at Turtle Trails two weeks ago. It was down 3 feet - and took a lot of effort to get out.

I took it by the museum and they said it looked authentic, but no one there was an expert.

Yours look like it is in a little better condition than the one I found. But they look to be the same size, shape and same amount of corrosion.

I had expected to see flacking of metal on the sword part, but was told that the sword was probably heat treated and would not flake.

Congrats on your find!

I hope it is worth a ton of money . . .

Bill

It definitely was a surprise to me, as after I finished digging it up I gave it a quick look and thought awe just another spike (Like that's a bad thing though) and decided to leave it up in the dry sand until I finished a scan of this particular area. After returning back to claim my find I started to get a little exited as this definitely was no spike.

After returning home it was immediately submerged into fresh water. Once I return home from my trip to Boise Idaho I will be contacting the folks up in Sebastian to help with the conservation and or authentication of this artifact.

These artifacts are being found on one of the top five beaches in the treasure coast beach report.

So long for now and Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

FloridaBill · Nov 24, 2008

That is awesome let us know what you find out

DaChief · Nov 24, 2008

Looks like the real deal to me. Nice going. One part of the conservation is to keep in water until you can start the cleaning process. Air is its worse enemy right now.

COTTON · Nov 24, 2008

Very cool. Keep us posted.....................Cotton

mistergee · Nov 24, 2008

WOW...looks like the real deal to me...i think your supposed to change the water from time to time also as the salt leaches out of it :thumbsup:

Narthoniel · Nov 24, 2008

Absolutly an INCREDIBLE find!!!!

I say banner!

greengorilla · Nov 24, 2008

Guerillabill sent me a phone photo of his when he found it. Yours is very similar.
I've done some research on Bill's photo and it could be 15th century. Since the base of the sword or rapier is hand forged they do not tend to flake rust like cast or pressed steel. Many of the sword makers of that era alloyed their metals with bronze or nickle while pounding out the shape.
Superb find. Many congrats!!!!!
AAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

rmptr · Nov 24, 2008

Looks pretty impressive to me!

Gosh, I hope you've recovered a real one!

Good job!
rmptr

TidePool · Nov 25, 2008

Fantastic find!

What rig were you using?

Bottlemanstx · Nov 25, 2008

TidePool said:
Fantastic find!

What rig were you using?

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback and insite to this artifact. I will try sometime next week when I return home to meet with a conservator, and will hopefully have more information and details on this piece.

The artifact was found with a Garret Surf Pro II.

Thanks again,
Jeremy

phantomfinder · Nov 25, 2008

Thats just too coooooool :thumbsup:

Bottlemanstx · Nov 25, 2008

Interesting article on the Rapier:

http://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-rapier.htm/3

DaChief · Nov 25, 2008

Hey Bottleman. I am puzzled about the name of your detector. Garret Surf Pro II. I have not heard of that model and can't find a historical reference to it. Is it the Garrett Mark II? Surf Pro is made by Whites.

COTTON · Nov 25, 2008

Dachief. I was thinking the same thing, But if i found something like that i would be lost for words also. :tongue3:

.Cotton

beachboy · Nov 25, 2008

NICE!l.....I can not wait to see...

Bottlemanstx · Nov 27, 2008

DaChief said:
Hey Bottleman. I am puzzled about the name of your detector. Garret Surf Pro II. I have not heard of that model and can't find a historical reference to it. Is it the Garrett Mark II? Surf Pro is made by Whites.

DaChief,
You are absolutely correct on this one I still get messed up with these two units as I was looking at both of them before I purchased the Garret Mark II. Whoops!!

Thanks