A Small Sword for Comments (Sister to Napoleon's Sword?)

efrahjalt · 3rd February 2022, 04:21 PM

This is a small sword I picked up a while ago. I found a few interesting leads that could point to it's origin/maker, but nothing solid. Thought I would share here for those interested, and would love to hear any comments you may have.

I assume it is a late 18th or early 19th century court sword. This assumption is based on several swords of similar hilt and blade design in the Met and other museum collections. The blade is marked S-H on the ricasso. Samuel Harvey was a cutler in Birmingham from 1748-1778 and his son and grandson also worked in the business until 1810. He and his posterity signed their blades with an S-H. I don't have a positive ID since the mark is slightly different but it's a possibility from the right time. The tang is marked with H4 (it almost looks like #4, but upon closer inspection I now can see it is an H), and the guard is marked with an AB stamp and BES (could be RES) (see pictures). I also ran across a very very similar sword that was apparently owned by Napoleon and currently resides in the Museo Oro del in Peru. The fittings for these two must have come from the same artist or at least someone working in the same shop. The sword in the Museo Oro del has silver bars on the grip. I can see silver rubbed into the grooves on the grip of this piece were there would have been silver bars. Unfrotunately they have been removed.

I originally bought this thinking it was a well done reproduction with the threaded pommel nut and all, but after I started looking into it I now believe this piece is original. The workmanship is very good and although threaded pommel nuts were less common they were used at that time from what I understand.

The AB mark on the guard is quite distinct and seems like something that would be searchable, but I haven't had luck. I often wish that there was as good documentation on European swordsmiths as there is on Japanese sword craftsmen. Any thoughts on this one are wlcome.

Here are a few pictures of the piece and the marks. There is also a picture of Napoleon's sword from the Museo Oro del.

3rd February 2022, 04:21 PM	#1
efrahjalt Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 38	A Small Sword for Comments (Sister to Napoleon's Sword?) This is a small sword I picked up a while ago. I found a few interesting leads that could point to it's origin/maker, but nothing solid. Thought I would share here for those interested, and would love to hear any comments you may have. I assume it is a late 18th or early 19th century court sword. This assumption is based on several swords of similar hilt and blade design in the Met and other museum collections. The blade is marked S-H on the ricasso. Samuel Harvey was a cutler in Birmingham from 1748-1778 and his son and grandson also worked in the business until 1810. He and his posterity signed their blades with an S-H. I don't have a positive ID since the mark is slightly different but it's a possibility from the right time. The tang is marked with H4 (it almost looks like #4, but upon closer inspection I now can see it is an H), and the guard is marked with an AB stamp and BES (could be RES) (see pictures). I also ran across a very very similar sword that was apparently owned by Napoleon and currently resides in the Museo Oro del in Peru. The fittings for these two must have come from the same artist or at least someone working in the same shop. The sword in the Museo Oro del has silver bars on the grip. I can see silver rubbed into the grooves on the grip of this piece were there would have been silver bars. Unfrotunately they have been removed. I originally bought this thinking it was a well done reproduction with the threaded pommel nut and all, but after I started looking into it I now believe this piece is original. The workmanship is very good and although threaded pommel nuts were less common they were used at that time from what I understand. The AB mark on the guard is quite distinct and seems like something that would be searchable, but I haven't had luck. I often wish that there was as good documentation on European swordsmiths as there is on Japanese sword craftsmen. Any thoughts on this one are wlcome. Here are a few pictures of the piece and the marks. There is also a picture of Napoleon's sword from the Museo Oro del. Attached Images