Portuguese small sword for comments

Jim McDougall · 14th April 2013, 11:39 PM

Fernando, absolutely elegant piece, beautifully written description!!! I really like the way you add this kind of dimension and historical insight along with the great images of this sword, and I would very much agree with your estimate c.1820s.
I would note the compelling similarity to British officers 'spadroons' of c.1780s which typically had the five ball motif on the crossguard and the same symmetry as well as the neoclassic theme which prevailed in that 'fashion phenomenon' of the times.
The 'beads' and chain are also mindful of the civilian smallswords of England with cut steel and 'industrial revolution' styling, especially of Matthew Boulton c.1790s.

I like the bells as the kinds of embellishments popular in these times as well in these fashions very much favored by gentry, officers and courts. The element of 'swagger' in edged weapons was also apparant with cavalry officers of Napoleonic times who liked thier sabers to be worn low slung and drag and scrape as they walked. Ostensibly this was the purpose of the widened chape guard.

fernando · 15th April 2013, 01:25 PM

Thank you Jim,
I was trying to be so descriptive and discursive as someone i know

.
We can also read about espadas de arrasto (dragging swords) used by Portuguese officers in the first quarter XIX century. Period swagger went to the extreme of welding iron reinforcements in the chape guard. In page 125 of AS ARMAS & OS BARÕES we can see a Militias Officer sabre with a brass scabbard that has been so punished by the dragging that its chape guard consumed its material trhough to the scabbard end.

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14th April 2013, 11:39 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,295	Fernando, absolutely elegant piece, beautifully written description!!! I really like the way you add this kind of dimension and historical insight along with the great images of this sword, and I would very much agree with your estimate c.1820s. I would note the compelling similarity to British officers 'spadroons' of c.1780s which typically had the five ball motif on the crossguard and the same symmetry as well as the neoclassic theme which prevailed in that 'fashion phenomenon' of the times. The 'beads' and chain are also mindful of the civilian smallswords of England with cut steel and 'industrial revolution' styling, especially of Matthew Boulton c.1790s. I like the bells as the kinds of embellishments popular in these times as well in these fashions very much favored by gentry, officers and courts. The element of 'swagger' in edged weapons was also apparant with cavalry officers of Napoleonic times who liked thier sabers to be worn low slung and drag and scrape as they walked. Ostensibly this was the purpose of the widened chape guard.

15th April 2013, 01:25 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Jim, I was trying to be so descriptive and discursive as someone i know . We can also read about espadas de arrasto (dragging swords) used by Portuguese officers in the first quarter XIX century. Period swagger went to the extreme of welding iron reinforcements in the chape guard. In page 125 of AS ARMAS & OS BARÕES we can see a Militias Officer sabre with a brass scabbard that has been so punished by the dragging that its chape guard consumed its material trhough to the scabbard end.