Interesting smallsword for comment

[kronckew]

antique fencing foils & mask for illustration. the figure eight guards would usually have a solid leather backing pad to further protect the hand. the one with the pink background was a duelling sword with a triangular blade with only the tip sharpened (thrusting only, ie. epee) and the fig. eight guard is solid sheet metal. note the period photo of the man using one has the guard arranged so the long dimension is vertical, like on the subject weapon. like an eight - '8' - not an 'infinity' '00' where the long dimension is horizontal. it is possible the previous owner of the subject weapon assembled the guard 90 degrees out from the more normal smallsword position. the last photo is of an ealry duelling epee with an oval guard with a rayed flame motif.

[Jim McDougall]

Excellent Kronckew , thank you for those illustrations, exactly what I was looking for! The dual oval shaped guard was what I was thinking of.
Thank you for posting the duelling epee, and Dmitry, I missed that also, forgot about that knuckleguard

I suppose it is possible for a walking sword to be of the type which might serve as a duelling epee if required, but still have the fashionable style of the gentlemans smallsword. As always, I am typically overly optimistic, but remain in view of this sword as purposefully fabricated as is, and in the period noted. While I do not believe this is a fencing sword guard, I do believe it is made with these in mind, and in classical motif despite its rather heavy application. As I have contended, these were industrial times and sound, almost workmanlike features might well have recalled architectural motifs which also carried neoclassical themes in this period.

The only factor that is somewhat distracting with the configuration of the guard on this sword is that the lobes are positioned transversely to the quillons and knuckleguard, rather than horizontally in line. As the components seem to be homogenous as examined, the sword appears to have been originally intended as it stands, so perhaps this alignment was simply stylistic preference or if indeed innovatively fabricated, an oversight? It seems that if positioned otherwise the vestigial pas d'ane arms would have had no element for them to terminate upon.

The case continues

All best regards,
Jim

[Dmitry]

I knew I saw the guard before, in another incarnation.
Now it's clear to me that someone had a processional sword guard at hand, removed the quillons, and put the hilt together.

[Chris Evans]

Hi Folks,

I tend to agree with Dmitry. There is something about this sword that's just not rigt. The hand guard reeks of not being period and the blade looks atypical too, more like a late 19th century dueling epee.

Cheers
Chris