Anyone know how to read French Hallmarks?

[Radboud]

I posted on the forums linked with the 925-1000.com site and received the following (very helpful reply):

Hello and welcome to the forum.
The hilt of your small sword is made of 950 standard silver as indicated by a date letter mark of a crowned V (poinçon de jurande) for Paris, 1760. The initial “E” appears to be a partial maker’s mark, but you’d need at least another letter and a symbol to make an attribution.

As I’m sure you know, Guyon l’Ainé was a small sword blade maker. You have knowledge that he was active 1750-1767. There is concordance therefore between the date on the hilt and the dates of Guyon’s activity. Au Roi de Chine is the retailer, at the location of Pont Saint-Michel in Paris. The blade itself is not made of silver.

Good luck in your research on this item.
Regards

https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewt...hp?f=7&t=60969

[fernando]

So good you cracked it .

[ulfberth]

Congratulations Radboud ! this is one of the nicest ive seen in this genre and in mint condition.
As a former Napoleonic collector im also a sucker for 18thc C French swords and certainly like this one, i mean massive silver, mint condition, the blade makers adress on the blade, ok the French did this but only on the high quality items, this one must have belonged to a high ranked French noble man.
Seeing things like this draws me back more and more to my old love, which made me start collecting in the first place.
kind regards
Dirk