#smallswords

I will be using the same display boards and was also considering a 17th -18th Century theme of smallswords and broadswords.

But others have suggested that sabres would be of interest. But which sabres?

An assortment from the collection, including French, British and Dutch:

Or should I just limit them to just British ones so that people can see the variations within the patterns:

Here’s some photos of one of my newer swords, an 1871 Saxony Court sword. I apologise for the bad camera quality but photographing polished steel in a college apartment isn’t ideal.

It has a ~31 inch blade with faint etchings. The blade has a single fuller on each side, the floral etchings extending about halfway. The Maker’s Mark, not pictured, is from renowned German bladesmiths Weyersburg, Kirchbaum, & Co based out of Solingen (No surprises there) and still operates today. The grip is brass with a hollow pommel and 2 mother of pearl pieces for the grip. The crest of the Kingdom of Saxony is featured prominently on the guard.

For a (what I assume) ceremonial/dress sword, this handles so beautifully. Lightweight, but with just enough steel to still be functional, this represents the pinnacle of smallsword design (mostly because they were slowly phased out of popularity due to changing times and tastes as the modern era loomed) and is expertly made. Many have commented that modern swords simply aren’t made the way they used to be, if this is true, then consider this sword an example of how they should be made. I exaggerate only slightly when I say this blade could pierce a car door, though it is so solid in the hand it may well do so. Only myself being left handed prevents me from trying this out very much as the guard is ever so slightly uncomfortable when gripped in the left hand and I don’t really feel like starting right hand sword training

Five 18th Century smallswords from France, The Netherlands (Batave Republic) and Spain. From left to right they are:

Spanish cup-hilted smallsword. This sword is a hybrid of the Spanish cup-hilted rapier and the French Smallsword. It has a long lozenge cross-sectioned blade with piercings at the forte. The ricasso is covered under a block that is part of the guard. The larger cup guard provides plenty of room to hook the finger over the quillon.

Military officers smallsword from the era of the Batave Republic. This type was first identified as a model by collector and author; G.R. Hof based on existing examples and a painting in the Dutch Army Museum of a Grenadier Guards officer.

An early French m1767 Infantry officers smallsword with a colichmarde blade.

The last two are civilian, the first has a steel guard with classical figures in gold gilt. It is very light (270grams) with a long trefoil blade. The right most sword has a silver hilt, hallmarked to Paris 1760. The blade is by Guyon I’Ainé.

As so frequently happens, just when you say to yourself that you have enough examples of a type in your collection, something else crosses your path that grabs your attention….

Like many smallswords, this example is difficult to place in a specific region; but going by the decoration style and the way the guard screws on the pommel, it is most likely of German or Northern European origin, from the late 18th or early 19th Century.

Smallswords were carried at this time by military officers, court officials or wealthy gentlemen in many nations and the vast majority don’t follow any specific pattern. So, in absence of a makers or nationalistic marking we can only guess to a swords’ origin.

The blade on this smallsword is too dark to clearly make out what remains of the original markings but is visible is typically seen on Solingen blades. Not very helpful when we consider the sheer mass of blades exported by the region over history.

For me, each smallsword is a unique item, a piece of a ‘gentleman’s uniform / jewelry’ so I like to see examples that reflect a small cross section of all the different styles. What attracts me to this sword is the gilt 'a la Francaise' boatshell hilt, the use of ebony wood for the grips and the long, trefoil blade. The sword strikes me as being not too ostentatious, and a practical weapon.

Overall Length: 995 mm

Blade Length: 824 mm

Grip Length: 135 mm

Inside Grip Length: 100 mm

Sword Weight: 430 grams

French Epee d’officier d’infanterie m1767

The Infantry officer’s sword, model 1767 was introduced into service by royal decree in April 1767 and remained in general use right up until the French Revolution. The original regulation was for a gilded brass hilt a silver handle and ‘a la mousquetaire’ guard. Over the years the sword underwent some small changes. In the ordinance of September 2nd 1775 it was ordered that the blade would be flat and strong, 26 inches long. The swords of Staff Officers will be of the same design, but stronger with a blade that is 28 to 29 inches long (keep in mind that it was Napoleon who brought the metric system to France).

At the end of May 1776, the silver wire was changed to plated silver wire. Other changes include a gradual transition from the melon pommel to one of oval shape, the knuckle guard was modified so that the bulge was on the outside only and the annulets became less pronounced, in following with the fashion of other smallswords.

Just like in the British Army, French Officers were not above liberal interpretation of the regulations, and while hilt appearance broadly followed them, the same could not be said for the blades. France had a strong tradition of settling disputes with duals. Gentlemen were expected to defend their honour with the sword and were trained to do so from an early age. Naturally many had strong felt opinions on their preferred blade and this is reflected in the variety of blades that can be found mounted on the m1767 hilt.

This sword features a silver-, or silver-plated hilt, silver grip and faux turks-head furrels. The original round melon pommel and large annulets indicate that this is an early sword. It sports a robust 83cm colichemarde blade with simple etchings of a military nature on both sides.

Overall Length: 1000 mm

Blade Length: 835 mm

Grip Length: 129 mm

Inside Grip Length: 94 mm

Weight: 490 grams

Now that I have all the smallswords that I’m likely to own (famous last words… I know!) I need to think about how I will display them.

I don’t have a lot or wall space, (about 900mm wide) that butts onto the corner where the main sword display is. I am using this corner because it is out of direct sunlight and thus out of view from any of the windows.

So I was thinking of making a board 1100mm tall and 550mm wide to mount the smallswords on. Backed with the same blue canvas and brownish edging.  

Originally I planned to lay them out in this star pattern with crossed blades.

But now I am leaning towards using this half fan with the flat of the blades out so that the corner isn’t too busy with the hilts from the main display.

My other option is to use this fan shape.

So my personal order of preference is:

1.       Half fan

2.       Fan with blades meeting at the tip

3.       Star with crossed blades.