A Portuguese fashionable small sword

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... I would imagine that these would have been somewhat questionable in pitched combat or duelling, but certainly used in the heat of anger in dispute would touch thier mark. ...

Spot on, Jim .
The article i have read on the quitó history in Portuguese social life relates precisely such kind of events.

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...The chain guard as far as I know was not typically seen on hunting, court or smallswords until around the middle of the 18th or slightly before. I would suspect someone might find an example, but in research looking for one a short time ago I could not locate one before mid 18th.

Spot on again,
While the quitó reportedly appeared in the first quarter XVIII century, when King Dom João prohibited the large swords, so called Toledanas (for one), i find in my micro library specimens similar to this one, dated second half XVIII century.

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... Stay thirsty my friend! ...

Thirstier than ever