LEMA: Lachlan Macquarie's Sword and Scabbard: Runkel

RUNKEL, Johann Justus (c1751–1808)

One of the most important London merchants dealing in Solingen blades was the sword cutler Johann Justus Runkel. His trading premises were located at 8 Tookes Court, Holborn and he was a member of the Cutler's Company (the trade guild), though his business was mainly importation – blades, fully made up swords, and even unmanufactured steel. In the period 1795–1808 he was probably the most important London merchant dealing in Solingen blades.

Runkel was German–born, and was resident in the parish of Renysdorff , Neuwid, Prussia between c1751–1779. It is unknown at what date he emigrated to England or at what age he may have undertaken such a move. However, in relation to his business activities, the earliest mention of Runkell appears on 24 June 1780. At this time he is listed as a ratepayer and occupant of a house at 8 Tookes Court, off Castle Street, Holborn, (also referred to as Chancery–Lane, running adjacent to Tookes Court) in the parish of St Andrew Holborn and St George the Martyr. He remained at this address until at least 1800. Thereafter, there is no known record of Runkel's location.

The commencement of Runkel's business in London in c1780 highlighted a business rivalry between British and German blademakers and importers. It led to a series of comparative strength tests of individual blades, and later, to legal proceedings against Runkel for the alleged illegal importation (or undervaluation) of German blades brought to Britain. The first court case took place on 7 July 1787 in the Court of Exchequer. The trial did not proceed to its full course, but was settled when Runkel agreed to pay two-thirds of the appraised value of the impounded swords (£1,480) as well as all court costs and expenses.
[see: Times [London] 5 December 1787, Issue 916. Law Report. Court of Exchequer. p.3b]

These legal proceedings did not appear to damage Runkel's business prospects: he became a naturalized British subject on 7 March 1796, and was registered as a freeman of the Cutlers Company on 21 May 1796. By 1803, he had risen to a commanding position in the blade importing trade, having imported 500 swords and 100 blades from Solingen, Prussia, in that year. The swords and blades were ordered for the Prince of Wales' 10th Light Dragoons.

Runkel favoured the North Sea port of Emden in Lower Saxony for his trading links (rather than Rotterdam or Antwerp), and his monthly imports of both blades and complete swords regularly ran into the hundreds, and on several occasions, into the thousands. However, Runkel fell foul of the law in 1806 for undervaluing his cargoes. In March 1806 approximately 1650 Solingen swords and blades that he had imported from Emden were confiscated 'for the benefit of the Crown' and he was required to pay a £5 per unit penalty. A similar fate befell a cask of un–manufactured steel which he imported in June 1806.

The last record of Runkel is in 1808, when he is listed in the Cutler's livery list.

Sources:
True Briton (1793) (London, England), Thursday, April 19, 1798; Issue 1660]; Bezdek, Richard H. Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland. Boulder: Colorado: Paladin Press, 2003 pp.148–149; May, W.E. and Annis, P.G.W. Swords For Sea Service. London: HMSO 1970 Vol. 2 p.302; Mowbray, E. Andrew. The American Eagle–Pommel Sword: The Early Years 1794–1830; Southwick, Leslie. London Silver Hilted Swords: their makers, suppliers & allied traders, with directory. London, Royal Armouries Publications, 2003 p.302; Dellar, Richard and O'Reilly Rob. "John Justus Runkel - Sword Merchant of London." Classic Arms & Militaria Vol XIV, Issue 3 pp.48-51.

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