Brass hilt briquet type hanger....British cutlass?

[corrado26]

By "Mervyn Milton, The policeman's lot, London 1985, p. 108" one can read, that "the actual briquet never made it across the English Channel. This type of weapon does not appear in the UK. Prey pieces in a new way are not known. The "Police Swords and Hangers" are complex pieces, mostly made at "Parker, Field & Sons, 233 Holborn, London". So the sword in question should come from the continent, where it was in use in lots of countries as nearly all German states, France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria and Belgium.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by corrado26

By "Mervyn Milton, The policeman's lot, London 1985, p. 108" one can read, that "the actual briquet never made it across the English Channel. This type of weapon does not appear in the UK. Prey pieces in a new way are not known. The "Police Swords and Hangers" are complex pieces, mostly made at "Parker, Field & Sons, 233 Holborn, London". So the sword in question should come from the continent, where it was in use in lots of countries as nearly all German states, France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria and Belgium.

Thank you Udo, excellent cite and thanks for the source detail. The swords for civil service are another area which is it seems not well covered in research material, so this reference is much appreciated.

It seems there is somewhat a consensus that the so called 'briquet' from the Continent was never part of the armory in Great Britain. It is almost bizarre that I never pursued this beyond simply assuming that Wilkinson and Blair in their books and classified these as 'foot artillery gunner' sword, British, was correct.

I think it can be established that the briquet, as a weapon form generally used in Great Britain indeed never happened, as shown in the Morrison article I added in previous post (thanks to Bryce who found it originally).

However, the point being made here is that in these times in pre Napoleonic campaigns England, there was a pallor of fear of French invasion. At this point there was no standardization or regulation of military arms and there was a large push for civil readiness which led to the participation of local artisans, and producers of many wares in making supplies and even weaponry in an ersatz manner.

That is what in my opinion makes this sword so unique, the PS initials align compellingly with Paul Storr, an English precious metals artisan. That places this weapon SOUNDLY on the English side of the channel.

There are many cases of course, where weapons became popular outside regulation or known record at large. The fact that a very limited degree of weapons in England were copied from French forms in a number of elements such as the Woolley & Deakin swords with fluted ebony grips (a French affectation) the 'Montmorency' blade, also of French association. ...suggests that the influences were there, even if not largely apparent.

These are the thoughts I am operating on with this idea, and I am very grateful for these kinds of detail which can test the theory objectively.
Thank you again.

[kronckew]

So...What IS a briquet? What ISN'T? Definition please!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

So...What IS a briquet? What ISN'T? Definition please!

These munitions grade hanger/swords were basically infantry/grenadiers weapons in France which were made with cast brass hilts and were well known prior to Napoleonic period and after.
Apparently the term 'briquet' was derisively applied by cavalrymen toward the shorter infantry weapons being compared to the sticks (lighters) called briquets used to start campfires.

It seems these were copied throughout Europe by their infantry units mostly but they seem to have been used in rank and file options as required.
These seem invariably to be the solid cast, ribbed grip brass hilts on varying form short blades.

[kronckew]

So...this brass hilted double edged recurved blade ~yataghan-ish variant qualifies.
I believe it's Prussian - possibly an experimental version.
(Sharp in both edges).

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

So...this brass hilted double edged recurved blade ~yataghan-ish variant qualifies.
I believe it's Prussian - possibly an experimental version.
(Sharp in both edges).

Actually the example of the French hanger I posted , with the characteristic ribbed brass single piece grip in its distinct shape is the only thing termed a briquet. It was a colloquial nickname as described, and while it was first applied in French context.....it came up, probably as usual by collectors to refer to any of these swords that looked exactly like this.

The example you posted would not be deemed a briquet in normal perspective, does that make any sense? Perhaps by the very loose description of the term you could call it that, but we get into the famous name game.

[kronckew]

Hi Jim, was just pushing the boundary - I don't really think that one is a briquet. Maybe the definition should include 'post french revolutionary', 'ribbed brass grip and rounded D guard, 'short single edged hanger blade'.

[kronckew]

oops- double possteded