A Bracciajula - dating: 17th Century - provenance: Germany, Entirely made of iron. The shield consists of a round plate, with a long cusp fixed at the centre featuring toothed edges placed on a relieved base made of twelve hollow sectors pierced with geometrical motifs, the upper one provided with a round opening which can be opened outwards; festooned, wide border fixed to the shield's plate and decorated with rows of brass rivets, the internal ones with rosettes.The right side featuring a gauntlet featuring a short cuff and scaled back (fingers partially missing), and a turn-off lever to handle the shield; with an extractable blade provided with locking mechanism on the back surface, at the bottom; remains of leather strap on the left side. A very rare combined weapon. Among the very few known specimens, we quote the shield exhibited in Musée de l'Armee in Paris, and the one in Musée Royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire Militare in Brussels, another in Wien, Kunsthistorisches Museum and another in the collection of Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. Bibliography: Penguilly l'Haridon-Robert, 1891, vol. III, 152-Reverswau 1982, page 92, plate 7. 'Armes insolites', J.-P. Reverseau, page 96-97, 'Kombinationswaffen, H.-W. Lewerken, page 254. diameter 55 cm.