Hunting Sword no.2

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Second sword is probably latter part of the 18thC and from net search seems more than likely to be French. O.A. length 26 1/2 inches blade 20 1/2 inches, just over 1 inch at widest and 5/8 of an inch at thickest with an ebony hilt. This one has no makers mark that I can detect but does have the type of blade decor one associates with second half the 18thC i.e stand of arms etc. Unfortunately most of the decoration is quite faint as appearances would suggest the sword has been sharpened regularly and still has, as has the other, a reasonably keen edge. As usual all comments and further info sought.
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. It would appear a previous owner has glued the scabbard locket to the leather the wrong way round.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

... P.S. It would appear a previous owner has glued the scabbard locket to the leather the wrong way round.

And also the crossguard ?

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Fernando,
Here's another I found on the net.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Fernando,
Here's some others with the finials bending in the same direction in relation to the blade's edge.
My Regards,
Norman.

[fernando]

Alright; i will seek refuge into statistics. The majority has the upper quillon bending forward .
But then, yours is not wrong ; so good, Norman

.

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by fernando

The majority has the upper quillon bending forward .

Hi Fernando,
Most of the examples I have seen are as you rightly say but the odd one or two appear to 'buck the trend'.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Fernando,
Different again!!!
My Regards,
Norman.

[fernando]

Nah ... that´s photoshoping

[Jim McDougall]

Norman, all I can add is I think you are spot on with this one, and the style etching and stand of arms in general motif seems to also correspond to French examples. It seems like those flared out grip shapes are often on these as well.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Does anybody have any thoughts as to a stand of arms on a hunting sword rather than the usual hunt and forest scenes? I did find one other example of a hunting sword with a stand of arms and it had, if memory serves, a similar hilt and mounts. Was this just the penchant of one particular maker or would it have been a customer request or was it perhaps not just for the hunt?.
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. In my original post I stated the max thickness as 5/8 inch this should be in fact 5/16 inch, apologies.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Norman,
It is my understanding that hunting swords were often used by officers in campaign, and certainly in degree vice versa. The hunting sword was an important element of fashion for the gentry, which also of course included military officers. While these were important implements in the hunt, they served as well as weapons for officers, and in accord with military fashion, the blades used in the hunt, an event where the gentry and these military officers were often one in the same, embellishments might include varying motif.

I think the best descriptions of these instances and blades are in "Hunting Weapons" by Howard Blackmore, but in general, I thing the occurrence of either civilian hunt or military panoplies might be fairly common. The hunting sword also became very popular as a 'court' weapon as well.
The descriptions of these swords..hunting, court and dress swords are kind of misleading in my view as far as their actual use.

Outstanding examples you are posting here!!! Thank you!!!

All the best,
Jim

[M ELEY]

I'm right there with you on this one, Jim! The hanger remained popular with officers in the infantry, army and navy as well. The lack of a typical hunting motiff might hint at an officer's piece. Very nice sword!

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks so much Cap'n Mark!!! We know quite well that these hunting swords were profoundly at sea as well, in fact its hard to look at many of them without wondering if it had nautical associations !!

Indeed these examples are amazing, Norman again, cannot thank you enough for opening these threads with these swords. They are far too out of the limelight typically, very much like smallswords , and deserve this kind of attention.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... We know quite well that these hunting swords were profoundly at sea ...

Ah, go hunt the pirate, Capitão

[Norman McCormick]

Fernando, I think there is a "secret buccaneer" lurking behind that cool exterior of yours??? . and you must be getting close to fitting out several gun-decks all on your own.
Happy Swashbuckling,
Norman.

[M ELEY]

Ah, Norman, I think you do have a point here! 'Nando has a spectacular collection of rapiers and cuphilts along with cannons and bombards! Coincidence?? I think not! There were Portuguese pirates off of Brazil during the Golden Age. Fernando, have you ever been to Bahai?

[fernando]

You guys are terrible; hard to escape your radars
In fact, i wouldn't be surprised if one of my ancestors was a Corsair. Actually i descend from sea men, by the side of my fathers mother. The last one was a Captain in the Merchant Navy

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... have you ever been to Bahai?

You sure mean Bahia; where the Portuguese team starts the world cup next Monday 16th.