[William P]

hi, i need a hand with smallswords

my question is that i plan on buying a smallsword hilt/ blade for my clubs weapons display, i'd especially like for the smallsword to be used to contrast with the rapier we have (a blunted hanwei swept hilt)

i wouldnmt mind learning what cross sections smallswords had i kow some had simiar cross sections to rapiers and having more or less diamond shaped cross sections, in particular i want to perhaps have a cross that showcases the blade as not being cut friendly and quite stiff

[Timo Nieminen]

The main choices are hollow triangular, and other (diamond, hex, lenticular, fullered diamond/lenticular). THe former are less cut-friendly and stiffer for a given weight.

The 17th century ones in the Wallace Collection are about 650g (just estimating from a first look at the weights), and the 18th century ones are about 330g. There's a lot more variation in weight in the smallswords in the Met Museum (which also has a lot more of them). Their 17th century ones look lighter on average, maybe 600g, and their 18th century ones vary from 300g to 1kg, perhaps with a median of about 450g. The lighter ones tend to have very weight-saving hollow triangular cross-sections, and the heavier ones tend to have more "sword-like" blades. Triangular blades become much more common around 1700 - thus the 18th century swords are, on average, lighter. Regular "sword" blades continued in use, so we still see heavier 18th century smallswords.

There were significant improvements in steel-making and steel-working in the late 17th century. It may well be that these enabled the development of the lightweight smallsword.

[Glen A Cleeton]

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/...ing_swords

Downloadable or readable online

http://swordlinks.com/courtswords/courtswords.html

Cheers

GC

[William P]

https://www.medieval-fightclub.com.au/weapons-en/swords/decorative-swords/scottish-officer-small-sword.html

well i found the sword i'll likely be buying, ad quite heartily reconstructing. since i can see its several hunded grams overweight somehow and its got a few other defects, but i'm guessing some time and dedications with a dremel and grinder could help immensely

('the blade thckness is 4.5mm, a bit thin for my tastes but could be worse especially considering the price poi nt and that this sword is as much a prop as anything, something i can break out to show what happened to the rapier etc at medieval faires etc.

[Dan D'Silva]

It looks more like an epee du soldat than a typical smallsword. Didn't the French supply a lot of weapons to the '45? Might've included infantry swords like this.

Ed.: Unfortunately, it seems like true smallswords start at several times the price (Godwin, CS, etc.).

[Dan D'Silva]

Deepeeka is now selling colichemarde-bladed smallswords for a pretty low price. KoA lists them at only 1 lb. 1.2 oz., with "a hollow V-shape" cross section only 2.4mm thick. Too flimsy? They do at least look more like a typical smallsword, to my eyes, and the weight sounds good.

[William P]