Small sword; cut steel hilt, Colichemarde blade, for comments

urbanspaceman · 10th June 2021, 11:40 AM

Colichemardes account for as little as 0·3% of all smallswords extant.
Curiously, Greenwich Maritime Museum has the greatest proportion with 6 out of 120 smallswords having colichemarde blades.
As my inestimable colleague proclaimed: they were generally restricted to officer classes who might actually have to use them, and consequently favoured the reinforced forté. Civilian wearers preferred the aesthetically superior, standard un-shouldered blade, as they probably never had to use it.
Jim also agrees with me in that they were falling out of fashion during the second half of the 18thC.
I have a William Kinman silver, boat-shell hilted example with a 33" (84cm) blade (which was unusually long), and while the hilt is in perfect condition, the blade looks a good 100 years older. Kinman was marking from 1765 to 1799, so again, as in Fernando's example, I suspect it was a re-hilt (see image).
I will take this opportunity to reinforce what I have hinted at before, and that is: colichemardes feature a constant width groove/hollow on their lower face. This is a product of the second notorious machine: invented by Huguenots in Solingen around about 1625/30 that used a roller to fashion the groove from above while the stock was forced into the standard anvil die, and was brought to Shotley Bridge in 1687 by the two Mohll brothers. They had been trying to get it over here for some time as it was not well favoured in Solingen.
Given an opportunity, you will see that a lot of colichemardes feature a curvature that is a product of too much pressure from the roller; it would not have been present initially but generally would have developed over the years.
There are a lot of munitions grade smallswords that also feature this groove as it was far quicker and cheaper to produce; although this second image is of a special order smallsword made for a naval officer during George 3rd's reign by Thomas Gill of Birmingham that was obviously an expensive and unique commission; again, it features a Boulton hilt.
By this time the Mohlls/Molls/Moles were working down in Birmingham and using their rolling and grinding machines; but not, I hasten to add, under their own name.
To that end I would be grateful if anyone else has observed a late 18thC trefoil smallsword blade coming from Birmingham's makers.

Jim McDougall · 10th June 2021, 06:06 PM

This response by Keith is virtually 'the tip of the iceberg' regarding the true history of these swords and types he has uncovered in the several years he has been researching for his book on the history of the Shotley Bridge enterprises.

I am fortunate to have 'been along' in this, and quite honestly have learned more on these fields of sword history than I could have imagined beyond what I had studied over many years. As if the wars, campaigns and strife between countries and Great Britain as well as within the countries themselves were not complicated enough, the mysteries and intrigues of Shotley Bridge are a solid mix of history and James Bond! and the mysterious 'Hollow Sword Blades' have never been as deeply approached as by Keith, as can be seen in this brief view he has entered here.

His research has set aside many generations of misconception, lore and generally held assumptions regarding these swords, and I could not resist saying so here. Having said that, I will say that these great examples posted here the past week of small swords, along with what Keith has shared, has greatly piqued my interest in them, and anxious to learn more.

I hope we will be seeing more examples!

fernando · 11th June 2021, 01:23 PM

Thank you so much Gentlemen, for your comprehensive comments and the treatises on these swords.
I will be digesting and saving to my archives, all those precious details.
And once Keith notes that there aren't many of these swords out there, i will here upload a high end example, that comes in AS ARMAS E OS BARÕES, by Eduardo Nobre. The silver hilt has gilded decorations, and zoomorphic figures.

.

urbanspaceman · 11th June 2021, 01:35 PM

This is a magnificent sword Fernando: truly superb. Is it part of your collection?
It is not possible to see in detail, is the blade a hollow trefoil blade?
It looks like a style of colichemarde blade (accurate name unknown to me) that I have wanted to acquire for some time and features in the Diderot page of blade shapes number 5g. Is it called a flattened diamond shape?
There are even less swords of this style than the regular colichemarde.

fernando · 11th June 2021, 04:28 PM

No Keith, this is not mine, although i have in time acquired a few pieces from this collection; in fact this is a book/catalogue that the author (Eduardo Nobre) published to promote its sales.
There is no detailed description on the blade, except that it is a Colichemarde . ... and the Konigsmark story.
The images i posted are as good as those in the book. To my eyes there is no actual hollow ground profile; however the three parts of the forte look slightly concave. On the other hand, as both images show the same side of it, i can't even say if the other side is flat... yet it could (should) be.
Blade length 780 mm. thickness 30 mm. Total length 940 mm.
Sorry i can't be more precise

.

On the sword, the guard, the grip, the knuckle guard and the pommel are all pierced and chiselled. There is an animal head in the knuckle guard where it meets the pommel, with eyes and plumage.

fernando · 14th June 2021, 08:35 PM

Guys, adding a picture of the no longer broken point and the comparison of all three face ricassos, where we can (hopefully) see that one is not an arabesc but the blade smith signature.

.

fernando · 24th August 2021, 11:12 AM

Some (silver) arrangement ... for the missing chain

.

ausjulius · 31st August 2021, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

This is a product of the second notorious machine: invented by Huguenots in Solingen around about 1625/30 that used a roller to fashion the groove from above while the stock was forced into the standard anvil die, and was brought to Shotley Bridge in 1687 by the two Mohll brothers. They had been trying to get it over here for some time as it was not well favoured in Solingen.

very interesting.. would you know of asny depictions of the maschine, any sketches, drawings ect?
seemslike this is the first sort of attempt to make some die forming process for a sword.. or were their earlier attempts i wounder?

10th June 2021, 11:40 AM	#1
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 579	Colichemarde lore Colichemardes account for as little as 0·3% of all smallswords extant. Curiously, Greenwich Maritime Museum has the greatest proportion with 6 out of 120 smallswords having colichemarde blades. As my inestimable colleague proclaimed: they were generally restricted to officer classes who might actually have to use them, and consequently favoured the reinforced forté. Civilian wearers preferred the aesthetically superior, standard un-shouldered blade, as they probably never had to use it. Jim also agrees with me in that they were falling out of fashion during the second half of the 18thC. I have a William Kinman silver, boat-shell hilted example with a 33" (84cm) blade (which was unusually long), and while the hilt is in perfect condition, the blade looks a good 100 years older. Kinman was marking from 1765 to 1799, so again, as in Fernando's example, I suspect it was a re-hilt (see image). I will take this opportunity to reinforce what I have hinted at before, and that is: colichemardes feature a constant width groove/hollow on their lower face. This is a product of the second notorious machine: invented by Huguenots in Solingen around about 1625/30 that used a roller to fashion the groove from above while the stock was forced into the standard anvil die, and was brought to Shotley Bridge in 1687 by the two Mohll brothers. They had been trying to get it over here for some time as it was not well favoured in Solingen. Given an opportunity, you will see that a lot of colichemardes feature a curvature that is a product of too much pressure from the roller; it would not have been present initially but generally would have developed over the years. There are a lot of munitions grade smallswords that also feature this groove as it was far quicker and cheaper to produce; although this second image is of a special order smallsword made for a naval officer during George 3rd's reign by Thomas Gill of Birmingham that was obviously an expensive and unique commission; again, it features a Boulton hilt. By this time the Mohlls/Molls/Moles were working down in Birmingham and using their rolling and grinding machines; but not, I hasten to add, under their own name. To that end I would be grateful if anyone else has observed a late 18thC trefoil smallsword blade coming from Birmingham's makers. Attached Images Last edited by urbanspaceman; 10th June 2021 at 11:44 AM. Reason: typo

11th June 2021, 01:23 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you so much Gentlemen, for your comprehensive comments and the treatises on these swords. I will be digesting and saving to my archives, all those precious details. And once Keith notes that there aren't many of these swords out there, i will here upload a high end example, that comes in AS ARMAS E OS BARÕES, by Eduardo Nobre. The silver hilt has gilded decorations, and zoomorphic figures. . Attached Images

11th June 2021, 01:35 PM	#4
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 579	Eduardo Nobre Colichemarde This is a magnificent sword Fernando: truly superb. Is it part of your collection? It is not possible to see in detail, is the blade a hollow trefoil blade? It looks like a style of colichemarde blade (accurate name unknown to me) that I have wanted to acquire for some time and features in the Diderot page of blade shapes number 5g. Is it called a flattened diamond shape? There are even less swords of this style than the regular colichemarde. Last edited by urbanspaceman; 11th June 2021 at 01:38 PM. Reason: extra sentence added.

14th June 2021, 08:35 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Guys, adding a picture of the no longer broken point and the comparison of all three face ricassos, where we can (hopefully) see that one is not an arabesc but the blade smith signature. . Attached Images

24th August 2021, 11:12 AM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Some (silver) arrangement ... for the missing chain . Attached Images

10th June 2021, 06:06 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,200	This response by Keith is virtually 'the tip of the iceberg' regarding the true history of these swords and types he has uncovered in the several years he has been researching for his book on the history of the Shotley Bridge enterprises. I am fortunate to have 'been along' in this, and quite honestly have learned more on these fields of sword history than I could have imagined beyond what I had studied over many years. As if the wars, campaigns and strife between countries and Great Britain as well as within the countries themselves were not complicated enough, the mysteries and intrigues of Shotley Bridge are a solid mix of history and James Bond! and the mysterious 'Hollow Sword Blades' have never been as deeply approached as by Keith, as can be seen in this brief view he has entered here. His research has set aside many generations of misconception, lore and generally held assumptions regarding these swords, and I could not resist saying so here. Having said that, I will say that these great examples posted here the past week of small swords, along with what Keith has shared, has greatly piqued my interest in them, and anxious to learn more. I hope we will be seeing more examples!

11th June 2021, 04:28 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	No Keith, this is not mine, although i have in time acquired a few pieces from this collection; in fact this is a book/catalogue that the author (Eduardo Nobre) published to promote its sales. There is no detailed description on the blade, except that it is a Colichemarde . ... and the Konigsmark story. The images i posted are as good as those in the book. To my eyes there is no actual hollow ground profile; however the three parts of the forte look slightly concave. On the other hand, as both images show the same side of it, i can't even say if the other side is flat... yet it could (should) be. Blade length 780 mm. thickness 30 mm. Total length 940 mm. Sorry i can't be more precise . On the sword, the guard, the grip, the knuckle guard and the pommel are all pierced and chiselled. There is an animal head in the knuckle guard where it meets the pommel, with eyes and plumage.