small/court sword for comment and restoration tips

shayde78 · 10th September 2017, 08:15 PM

Thank you for the comments so far.
Regarding the Austrian cadet swords, if you look at the blade cross section of my piece (shown in the 5th picture), you will see the blade is never rectangular. It begins as ovoid (is that a word?) at the ricasso, then transitions to a hexagonal cross section for the rest of the length. This seems different than the examples shared and was what made me think it was solidly dated to the 18th century, although I fully acknowledge my estimation of such things is based upon my gut, and not any actual experience.

M ELEY · 10th September 2017, 09:14 PM

Great catch, Corrado. At least my 'Germanic states' wasn't too far off.

Rob, the shape of the blade usually isn't a determinant of age with these. Looking back over the pics, though, I would lean more towards the 1790-1800 timeline due to the sword's vestigial pas d'ane and also the pommel 'button' capstan where the tang passes through the hilt. This feature died out at the turn of the 19th c. Again, an interesting piece-

corrado26 · 11th September 2017, 04:42 PM

The Rokoko-decoration of these two sword is IMO a little bit earlier: Both are typical for the time of Maria Theresia Queen of Hungary and sovereign of the Holy Roman Empire 1740 to 1780
corrado26

shayde78 · 13th September 2017, 06:41 PM

Thanks everyone. I think we're settling on the last quarter of the 18th century given structural details (pas d'ane, pommel button) and the decorative elements. All with a likely Austrian origin.

Thanks so much. I love to get an accurate tag on my items, both for my own sake, and in case something happens to me

, my wife will know what she's actually dealing with.

You all are the best!

10th September 2017, 08:15 PM	#1
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Thank you for the comments so far. Regarding the Austrian cadet swords, if you look at the blade cross section of my piece (shown in the 5th picture), you will see the blade is never rectangular. It begins as ovoid (is that a word?) at the ricasso, then transitions to a hexagonal cross section for the rest of the length. This seems different than the examples shared and was what made me think it was solidly dated to the 18th century, although I fully acknowledge my estimation of such things is based upon my gut, and not any actual experience.

10th September 2017, 09:14 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,167	Great catch, Corrado. At least my 'Germanic states' wasn't too far off. Rob, the shape of the blade usually isn't a determinant of age with these. Looking back over the pics, though, I would lean more towards the 1790-1800 timeline due to the sword's vestigial pas d'ane and also the pommel 'button' capstan where the tang passes through the hilt. This feature died out at the turn of the 19th c. Again, an interesting piece-

11th September 2017, 04:42 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,231	The Rokoko-decoration of these two sword is IMO a little bit earlier: Both are typical for the time of Maria Theresia Queen of Hungary and sovereign of the Holy Roman Empire 1740 to 1780 corrado26

13th September 2017, 06:41 PM	#4
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Thanks everyone. I think we're settling on the last quarter of the 18th century given structural details (pas d'ane, pommel button) and the decorative elements. All with a likely Austrian origin. Thanks so much. I love to get an accurate tag on my items, both for my own sake, and in case something happens to me , my wife will know what she's actually dealing with. You all are the best!