HELBARD Swiss, last quarter of the 16th century, Ringier–Zofingen. Square tip, trapezoidal blade with slanted, straight edge, decorated with simple bow-shaped engravings and punctiform perforations, upper and lower edges of the blade as well as the beaked hook with a bow-shaped incisions, struck mark: a square with a diagonal bar and three spheres (= simplified Ringier coat-of-arms). Two langets, one of which is shortened, two shaft bands, ferrule. Octagonal shaft, some traces of worming, carved initials of the owner. L 231.5 cm Provenance: - Collection M. Sigrist. Rare Swiss helbard. Michael, the son of Hans Ringier (mentioned 1538-1567) who was naturalized in Zofingen, held the office of Mayor from 1587 to 1605. The brothers Michael (mentioned 1546-1605) and Jakob (mentioned 1540-1586) practiced the knife- and weapon-making trade. They also made helbards. Cf. H. Schneider: Schweizer Waffenschmiede, 1976, p. 176, incorrect attribution of the mark.