Smallsword hilted Spadroon

[kisak]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
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.

In case it helps, I see infantry officer's swords with "smallsword style" hilts and spadroon blades every now and then here in Sweden. The hilt here doesn't really look like the Swedish fashion though. The earliest example of one with a spadroon blade I could find in Berg's book was from 1830, though there's a cavalry officer's sword (different hilt) with a similar blade from 1810, and the style remains in use to ca 1860. The example in the white-background picture here is ca 1850.

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.

[Richard G]

The blade seems to me to have most of the characteristics of those "Runkel" blades of the early 19th Cent.
Regards
Richard

[Norman McCormick]

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.

[Hotspur]

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

[Norman McCormick]

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.

[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

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.

I do have a few buried in files somewhere for Soligen made swords up into the 19th century. Some have stated it specifically regards Schnitzler&Kirshbaum (iirc, one of them anyway), as an export agent but considering the variety I have seen it on I don't believe it to be a specific company. Possibly a single bladeworks but my gut says it represents the entire city and all the forges. It does sometimes show up on Soligen stamped in along with the spine mark but often without and waht seem to be earlier blades. I think Solingen blade history could be a life study in and of itself.

Wagner may have notes in his book but I do not own his tome that also shows the Passau marks.

Cheers

GC

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Glen,
Thanks for the further suggestions. I'm sure I've seen this or similar on older blades but for the life of me I can't remember where It seems too complex for a makers mark also it's engraved and not stamped, quality or guild mark maybe? Probably I'll come across a clue when I least expect it but to me that's part of the game and the chase Thanks again.
My Regards,
Norman.