mea culpa
Yes, I absolutely mean 600 and 650gr... what was I thinking?!
Those are exactly the kind of early smallswords we find predominating up in the North of the British Isles. They were made in Shotley Bridge between 1688 and 1691 but almost certainly nearer to '88. I have seen several more of almost identical design.
They would have been in the hands of local Jacobites and were definitely dress swords. The military versions were horseman's swords with broader blades of the same length (30") but those blades were smuggled in from Solingen and feature the Passau Wolf, whereas the smallswords have the Oley bushy tailed fox.
You make a very valid point re. refashioning rapier blades: the Portuguese one above has a flattened diamond profile which is maintained down to the foible; it is perfect throughout its length. It makes me consider if it was not always that length and if so, for what? Were they buying stock, ready to mount in smallswords? Every question has three following up.
The blade is dedicated to the queen of Portugal which is obviously Maria 1st (1777 - 1816) which helps put it in chronological perspective.
You raise a good point regarding the annuletts but that Portuguese sword has typical short 'branches'; that, of course, is the hilt design which looks much later than Queen Maria 1st so it was a re-purposed blade combination.
BTW. the link to your measurements does not work.
Purely for your interest, I am including my 1767 French officer's sword, of which I am particularly fond. It bears a strong resemblance, in some fashion, to my Shotley Bridge smallswords. A longer blade, but a similar balance in the hand... and very sharp. Let me have an active link so I can see yours; does it feature a cartouche at the ricasso?
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