18th Century Fleur de Lis mark on sword blades

[Jim McDougall]

True, there is a perception of France and England always being at war, however there were strong affinities between them most of the time, despite the warring issues.
In London there was a 'street' (more of an alley) called loosely 'fluer de lis' street, where in the early to mid 18th c. there were French merchants of sundry materials who had collected together in these 'business districts'. I have not found great detail, however it seems that the Huguenots escaping the religious persecution had been coming in since late 16th c.By 1720s these enclaves became more developed.

In a reference (passim, which I still cannot relocate) it was stated that in these areas, Fluer de Lis street in particular, bundles of sword blades were sold to cutlers. In England, there were few blade makers, even by 1770s there were only three in England. The primary suppliers of swords were cutlers, those who assembled swords with acquired blades and either they or other vendors supplied components such as hilts and scabbards.

While we have always presumed Solingen was the source of blades in both Scotland and England, there were blades ('Alsace') known as well, such as these with FDL. As French locations were with many Solingen smiths (much as with Hounslow and Shotley were in England) the blades were often very much the same as German.

The British fascination with French culture, fashion etc. always prevailed and often through the Royal house as well as the more covert Masonic ties, was seemingly a 'thing' even in times of war.

Here is a 'tubular grip' cutlass which as with yours prevailed from the period Hollier seems to have created the DD hilt (late 1720s) through the 18thc
By the type of blade this may be 1740s-50s but unmarked.

The basket hilt, though the guard attached 'in the Scottish manner' is clearly for British army forces and of 'dragoon' form, though the blade is relatively short for a horseman. Note the FDL on the blade, suggesting in the same 1740s period as the cutlass.