![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,592
|
![]()
Hi,
A new addition. An unusual, from what I can find, Smallsword mounted with a Spadroon type blade. I can find references to military smallswords but all the illustrations are of double edged diamond section blades and none are of single edged blades with a false back edge. If anyone has any photographs or illustrations of a similar set up to the one in these photos I would be really interested to see them. The hilt is gilded brass with quite a good bit of the gilding remaining. The pas d'ane is for looks only, the double quillions appear to be less than usual, the grip is bound in copper wire and copper ribbon. I would suggest a date C1760. Unusually there is also a tricolour silk 'sword knot' still attached although this is in rather a delicate state. The blade is 32 3/4 inches long, width 1 inch at widest and 3/8 inch at its thickest. The false edge is 8 inches with the first 5 inches sharpened. The blade is decorated as per the photos and is not maker marked though I suspect it's probably German. In conclusion my thoughts are that this is a Military Smallsword C 1760. I would of course be interested in your thoughts and comments. Regards, Norman. Last edited by Norman McCormick; 18th April 2013 at 09:26 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Wonderful addition, Norman
![]() Yeah, the blade looks Solingen ... and a bit earlier than the hilt ? ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,592
|
![]() Quote:
Thanks, I'm not sure about the age of the blade. I was going to comment on your Portuguese smallsword that the blade looked to be older than early 19thC but you beat me to it. ![]() My Regards, Norman. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,592
|
![]()
Hi,
Some more blade details including a photo of a mark on the spine, does anyone have a blade with the same/similar spinal marking? Regards, Norman. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 182
|
![]() Quote:
The practice of officer's swords with these "smallsword like" hilts goes back to the late 17th century in Sweden, originally as swords for officer's in general, but it quickly (ca 1720) became somethign just for the infantry, since the cavalry already had their own distinctive hilt. The blades mated with these hilts, and the overall size of the swords, goes from smallswords to full sized cavalry swords. I'm attaching a picture form the Army Museum in Stockholm showing a few examples, the spadroon-bladed one (second form the bottom) is ca 1840. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
|
![]()
The blade seems to me to have most of the characteristics of those "Runkel" blades of the early 19th Cent.
Regards Richard |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,592
|
![]()
Hi Kisak,
Many thanks for the images, not ones I have seen before. ![]() Hi Richard, Although this type of blade and decoration extended into the early 19thC I'm certain this blade is contemporary with the hilt C1760. ![]() My Regards, Norman. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Nipmuc USA
Posts: 496
|
![]()
The little squiggle on the base of the blade seems like a Solingen specific mark, just as the wolf had been for Passau. A guild mark (my thoughts).
Cheers GC |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,592
|
![]()
Hi Glen,
Seems possible, I'm sure I've seen the same or similar on other blades, still trying to find some more examples. My Regards, Norman. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|