My first smallsword

urbanspaceman · 28th December 2023, 07:30 PM

Hello again.
You remember I asked about the blade and whether it featured a hollow or a grove on the lower face... now I see it is a groove.
This - like all colichemardes - was impressed using the infamous machine that was taken to Shotley Bridge from Solingen.
I have seen examples of it on Birmingham swords before and have begun to wonder if a Mohll or an Oley set a one up down there.
The probability this is a Matthew Boulton hilt makes me wonder even more.
I draw your attention to an almost identical blade made by - or for - Thomas Gill. See following photos:

urbanspaceman · 28th December 2023, 07:36 PM

see photos of the Gill sword:

Yvain · 2nd January 2024, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the information and the additional picture! This type of blades is also illustrated in the Encyclopédie. I wonder if there is some info online or in a book about this specific style of hilt

urbanspaceman · 3rd January 2024, 12:28 PM

Matthew Boulton's company published an illustrated catalogue showing all the sword-hilts he offered.
It is an extremely extensive selection of very detailed drawings.
Unfortunately, I do not have/or can no longer locate, my copy of this catalogue.
My hard-drive is packed with research material and every time I attempt to tidy it up I seem to hide some things... sorry.
I will have found it on-line so I am sure you will be able too also.
In a nut-shell: Boulton was a Birmingham metal-works producer offering everything from buttons to candlesticks and was even minting money for the Crown at his Soho Mint. He was partnered with James Watt of steam engine fame.

28th December 2023, 07:30 PM	#1
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	Blade Hello again. You remember I asked about the blade and whether it featured a hollow or a grove on the lower face... now I see it is a groove. This - like all colichemardes - was impressed using the infamous machine that was taken to Shotley Bridge from Solingen. I have seen examples of it on Birmingham swords before and have begun to wonder if a Mohll or an Oley set a one up down there. The probability this is a Matthew Boulton hilt makes me wonder even more. I draw your attention to an almost identical blade made by - or for - Thomas Gill. See following photos: Last edited by urbanspaceman; 28th December 2023 at 07:33 PM. Reason: photos

28th December 2023, 07:36 PM	#2
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	Photos see photos of the Gill sword: Attached Images

3rd January 2024, 12:28 PM	#4
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	sword hilts Matthew Boulton's company published an illustrated catalogue showing all the sword-hilts he offered. It is an extremely extensive selection of very detailed drawings. Unfortunately, I do not have/or can no longer locate, my copy of this catalogue. My hard-drive is packed with research material and every time I attempt to tidy it up I seem to hide some things... sorry. I will have found it on-line so I am sure you will be able too also. In a nut-shell: Boulton was a Birmingham metal-works producer offering everything from buttons to candlesticks and was even minting money for the Crown at his Soho Mint. He was partnered with James Watt of steam engine fame.

2nd January 2024, 11:07 PM	#3
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 179	Thanks for the information and the additional picture! This type of blades is also illustrated in the Encyclopédie. I wonder if there is some info online or in a book about this specific style of hilt