A simple but interesting smallsword

Norman McCormick · 15th February 2021, 05:44 PM

Hi,
Here are a couple of smallswords I picked up in a lot with other bits. Some nice person thought it would be a good idea to plate them blades and all. I've managed to get the plating off the blade of the plain one but it is a laborious job but on the other hand not a lot to do in lockdown! Regarding the plain one, I read some time ago I don't know where that this very rudimentary type may be French N.C.O. issue but who knows.
Regards,
Norman.

M ELEY · 15th February 2021, 06:08 PM

Very nice sword pair, Norman! particularly like the example with the colichemarde blade! I had also read somewhere that the plain smallswords, many blackened, were NCO or 'sergeant' swords? I've had trouble relocating the source I had read from, though. Thanks for posting these!

Norman McCormick · 15th February 2021, 06:29 PM

Hi Mark,
Yeah I wish I could remember where I read the military connection re these type of smallswords. Be nice to think that they had some military history. The one with the colichmarde blade must have been pretty stylish in its day but unfortunately it's pretty badly damaged but interesting nonetheless.
My Regards,
Norman.

Jim McDougall · 15th February 2021, 10:06 PM

I think it was probably Aylward (1945) who noted these were of military dress type, but of course evolved from civilian dueling swords with apocryphal connections to John Phillip, a flamboyant Swedish soldier of fortune (aka Count von Konogsmark). Sword lore has 'colichemarde' as the French corruption of this name and presuming he designed the blade toward his penchant and fame for dueling.

It seems possible that 'the Count' was in London c. 1661 and proposed a blade broad at the hilt about half way down the blade, putting most of the weight near the hand, with the rest dramatically narrowed to the point for speed and dexterity. The early blades were of flat hexagon section ground down to achieve that profile.
Later versions seem to have moved to the triangular section blades on these small swords but keeping the broad blade heel to the center and narrowing to a point. Eventually the reduction to the point became gradual, forte to point.

While the colichemarde fell out of fashion for civilians c. 1730, the changes were not sudden, and the military through conservativism, tradition and awareness of the blade character, kept it . Officers had these options.

I think George Washington had a colichemarde, and others have been known with hilt designs of 1790s +

The black pallor on these did not necessary confine them to mourning events but were considered high dress and often accenting the embellshments.

Just some stuff I had found as I had been looking into these swords recently, and these are fantastic!

M ELEY · 16th February 2021, 12:26 AM

Thank you, Jim, for shedding light on the topic. I also know that (believe it or not!

), smallswords went to sea. Spanish naval officers were reported to wear these as dress and while they probably didn't wear them on deck, they would have been kept in their quarters for fancy occasions ashore, diplomatic missions, visits to other ports, etc.

Jim McDougall · 16th February 2021, 02:09 AM

Absolutely Mark!
Officers, no matter in what units they were in, had their share of small swords. At sea , the officers were not expected to participate in melee or combat, but to direct. As you aptly point out, these distinctive swords were elements of fashion and status, and as discussed, extremely deadly, not just embellished baubles.

Officers in those times were almost invariably well heeled and from all ranks of gentry to high peerage and nobility. While the sword was of course very much the weapon of choice as firearms encroached, but with their inherent issues and limitations ,its advantage was it was always immediate and at the ready.

On campaign, officers of the army would of course leave behind the dressier swords, and often used a select dress sword, but small swords were for civil or dress wear. At sea, the officers had these with them as occasion arose.

In the "golden age" of piracy, on the Spanish vessels the captains and officers, had rapiers earlier, but were hardly wielding them a'la Flynn and Fairbanks. The small sword became the very suitable replacement for the ungainly rapiers.

With the famed Blackbeard saga, Lt. Maynard must have had a run of the mill smallsword as its blade broke in his initial contact with Teach.

Norman McCormick · 16th February 2021, 05:18 PM

Hi Guys,
I like smallswords and they are deadly little items. It's alright slashing and bashing away with a cutter but one little poke in the right place with one of these and it's all over. An interesting thread as always.
My Regards,
Norman.

15th February 2021, 05:44 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi, Here are a couple of smallswords I picked up in a lot with other bits. Some nice person thought it would be a good idea to plate them blades and all. I've managed to get the plating off the blade of the plain one but it is a laborious job but on the other hand not a lot to do in lockdown! Regarding the plain one, I read some time ago I don't know where that this very rudimentary type may be French N.C.O. issue but who knows. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

15th February 2021, 06:08 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Very nice sword pair, Norman! particularly like the example with the colichemarde blade! I had also read somewhere that the plain smallswords, many blackened, were NCO or 'sergeant' swords? I've had trouble relocating the source I had read from, though. Thanks for posting these!

15th February 2021, 06:29 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Mark, Yeah I wish I could remember where I read the military connection re these type of smallswords. Be nice to think that they had some military history. The one with the colichmarde blade must have been pretty stylish in its day but unfortunately it's pretty badly damaged but interesting nonetheless. My Regards, Norman.

15th February 2021, 10:06 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	I think it was probably Aylward (1945) who noted these were of military dress type, but of course evolved from civilian dueling swords with apocryphal connections to John Phillip, a flamboyant Swedish soldier of fortune (aka Count von Konogsmark). Sword lore has 'colichemarde' as the French corruption of this name and presuming he designed the blade toward his penchant and fame for dueling. It seems possible that 'the Count' was in London c. 1661 and proposed a blade broad at the hilt about half way down the blade, putting most of the weight near the hand, with the rest dramatically narrowed to the point for speed and dexterity. The early blades were of flat hexagon section ground down to achieve that profile. Later versions seem to have moved to the triangular section blades on these small swords but keeping the broad blade heel to the center and narrowing to a point. Eventually the reduction to the point became gradual, forte to point. While the colichemarde fell out of fashion for civilians c. 1730, the changes were not sudden, and the military through conservativism, tradition and awareness of the blade character, kept it . Officers had these options. I think George Washington had a colichemarde, and others have been known with hilt designs of 1790s + The black pallor on these did not necessary confine them to mourning events but were considered high dress and often accenting the embellshments. Just some stuff I had found as I had been looking into these swords recently, and these are fantastic!

16th February 2021, 12:26 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Thank you, Jim, for shedding light on the topic. I also know that (believe it or not! ), smallswords went to sea. Spanish naval officers were reported to wear these as dress and while they probably didn't wear them on deck, they would have been kept in their quarters for fancy occasions ashore, diplomatic missions, visits to other ports, etc.

16th February 2021, 02:09 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Absolutely Mark! Officers, no matter in what units they were in, had their share of small swords. At sea , the officers were not expected to participate in melee or combat, but to direct. As you aptly point out, these distinctive swords were elements of fashion and status, and as discussed, extremely deadly, not just embellished baubles. Officers in those times were almost invariably well heeled and from all ranks of gentry to high peerage and nobility. While the sword was of course very much the weapon of choice as firearms encroached, but with their inherent issues and limitations ,its advantage was it was always immediate and at the ready. On campaign, officers of the army would of course leave behind the dressier swords, and often used a select dress sword, but small swords were for civil or dress wear. At sea, the officers had these with them as occasion arose. In the "golden age" of piracy, on the Spanish vessels the captains and officers, had rapiers earlier, but were hardly wielding them a'la Flynn and Fairbanks. The small sword became the very suitable replacement for the ungainly rapiers. With the famed Blackbeard saga, Lt. Maynard must have had a run of the mill smallsword as its blade broke in his initial contact with Teach.

16th February 2021, 05:18 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Guys, I like smallswords and they are deadly little items. It's alright slashing and bashing away with a cutter but one little poke in the right place with one of these and it's all over. An interesting thread as always. My Regards, Norman.