Show Us Your 18th century swords! -- myArmoury.com

Morgan Butler · Posted: Wed 02 Mar, 2011 10:00 am Post subject:

Here are pics of the Epee du Soldat that was recently on E-bay and now gone. I own one just like it. I would have been interested to see if there was the arsenal/munitions stamp on it that is on mine.

David Ledoyen · Industry Professional

D Critchley · Posted: Wed 09 Mar, 2011 6:42 am Post subject:

A little short on British swords, this thread :-)

Morgan Butler · Posted: Thu 10 Mar, 2011 2:42 pm Post subject:

Michal Spilka · Industry Professional

18th cent.´s my personal favourite.
So here is my first contribution - from Prussian army: sabre for Prussian infantry M1715, Officers smallsword, prussian pistole and miniature of the russian cutlass.
The 18th century is very popular in our place. Especially the War between Prussia and Austria in 1756 (see the pics).
Thanks Morgan for posting this one! Finally someone´s noticed the 18th century J
Michal

Morgan Butler · Posted: Sun 13 Mar, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject:

Very nice Michal, The 18th century is indeed an interesting period, especially the 7 years war, which you seem to take an active part in. And of course, so many different types of swords. I hope you enjoyed the Prussian Infantry Officer sword I posted earlier.

Tell me more about the Officer's sword. Is it a double edged blade or a hollow ground blade? Do you know what nationality it is? It is very fine looking.

Norman McCormick · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 10:37 am Post subject:

Hi,
Slot hilted hanger with lions head pommel, solid silver guard and pommel with ivory grip bound with silver wire and silver ribbon C1775.
Regards,
Norman.

Morgan Butler · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 11:06 pm Post subject:

MB Tharp · Posted: Tue 15 Mar, 2011 7:48 am Post subject:

Bonjour David! WIll you be reproducing this one? I would love to have one like this?

[quote="David Ledoyen"]

Michal Spilka · Industry Professional

Hi Morgan,

my smallsword was made in Solingen.I think it´s a typical german work. The blade is „lozenge shaped“, ornamented with engravings (see the pics).
I walked around one antique shop and saw a very „rusty bowl“. I don´t know why, but it catched my yes somehow.
I repaired it, cleaned, made a new braidings,etc... – and after few weeks it´s quite a nice piece of smallsword J

I really like yours one from the first page. I made lots of pictures of smallswords and Pallashes in the Museum in Leeds or Tojhus in Copenhage. But your „shell – model/pattern“ one – it´s just wonderful!

There´s a picture of the sabre in attachment (from Arsenal Vienna) – sabre of Marshal Radecky. It was a very famous leader of Austrian army, born in my homeland (but this one is 19th C., hope you don´t mind).

cheers, Michal

Norman McCormick · Posted: Tue 15 Mar, 2011 12:28 pm Post subject:

Hi Morgan,
The sword is mine, one of the more fortunate purchases from a well known online auction site. The photograph was so bad that the silver looked like brass and the blade a rust bucket, some you win Big Grin

There are no hallmarks on the silver but after consulting Bonhams and the Royal Armouries it appears that it was not as unusual as one might think not to send silver for assay in order to avoid paying duty. I have attached some more photos. I was advised to leave the silver tarnished. On the hilt under the grip you can just see the beginning of a makers stamp and there may be assay stamps there as well but I would have to dismount the blade in order to check. I was very wary of interfering with the sword but checked with the Royal Armouries as a matter of course and was advised against dismounting the blade even though it may answer some questions. It probably was more for show than action but the blade seems pretty servicable if needs be although I would much prefer my '42' if it came to a fight.
Regards,
Norman.

Morgan Butler · Posted: Wed 16 Mar, 2011 3:18 pm Post subject:

Norman,
I know its heresy, Eek!

but I am always interested to see what they look like when cleaned up somewhat.

Norman McCormick · Posted: Wed 16 Mar, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Morgan,
This seems to be one of the biggest quandaries for collectors of antiques. On the one hand the original owner/maker would never have let this sword, for example, stay in the condition it is in at the moment but on the other hand interfering with the history of the item is also not desirable. It has always been my understanding that silver should be cleaned and brass should be left alone when it comes to antiques. To my mind bringing an item back to near the original condition is ok as long as you add nothing and take nothing away other than that which was not desirable to the original owner/maker. Where does patina end and dirt begin? Confused

Regards,
Norman.

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Wed 16 Mar, 2011 4:42 pm Post subject:

Tom Donoho · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 4:45 am Post subject:

Norman,

That's a lovely 18th century short saber. Would you post pics of the blade please.

Tom Donoho · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 4:51 am Post subject:

Here's a nice 18th century small-sword with what appears to be a period sword-knot. Its beauty is derived from its form rather than embellishment--a nice functional sword.

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Tom Donoho · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 4:54 am Post subject:

An attractive late 18th century small-sword.

Tom Donoho · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 4:56 am Post subject:

A beautiful loop-hilt small-sword.

Tom Donoho · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 5:01 am Post subject:

A nice French officer's small-sword with boat form hilt from my collection. (I have fixed the lose wire wrap to the grip. Interesting to note that the grip was seized over with a piece of period newspaper before adding the wire wrap--was this customary?) This sword handles very well--it surprised me!

Norman McCormick · Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 8:59 am Post subject:

Hi Tom,
Nice swords in your collection. Here is a closer image of the blade as requested, it would appear to have been 'blued' at some point in its lifetime although I'm unsure of the method used.
Regards,
Norman.