Portuguese small sword for comments

[fernando]

This is what happens when Kings decided it was time to cease fencing in the streets with sturdy swords and in 1719 limited its blade length to three palms, hoping that those huge cup hilted rapiers ended their days in the chest or near the children's bed to scare the witches, no more being reason for so many civilian casualties.
In no time a phenomenon called fashion, 'invented' in France, enticed nobles and dandies to change their attire and commission the so called quitós (same as cotós, from the french couteau), a tiny sword, more a product of jewelery than sword smithery.
Although an 'object' of elegance, its circa 60 cms. blade was strong and sharp and, while not handy for a duel, could well penetrate the chest of a night bandit as also resolve some misunderstanding between Gentlemen, as it is registered.
I take it that the hilt of this one is made of silver and ivory, as it was a current habit, and some traces of having being golden are still visible.
The little bell, which in some cases comes in a number of two, was said to jingle as the elegant owner walked either in the court corridors or in the street while reaching the place to wait an eternity for the lady to come to the window.
This blade has 63 cms.; in one side we can read VIVA EL and on the other only a trace or two, but it all indicates that it would read REY DE PORTUGAL.
Despite this type of small sword had its splendour in the second half XVIII century, this specific example could be a later version from around 1820, period of Dom João Prince Regent, later King Dom João VI.
This later version judgement is based on the bird inside the guard arc, which was a decorative habit of the period, when in some examples two birds appear in that place.
An interesting detail is the protection in the guard that prevents rain to enter the scabbard mouth.

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