Cutting Edges

[urbanspaceman]

I've been back to explore this sword some more, beginning with finding a better image.

Here's what I've found - and please correct me whenever necessary.
First, the hilt was from John Carman II (Holborn, London) in 1753.
The blade, however, is one of the early Shotley Bridge output i.e. 1688 onwards.
Considering how many of Washington's military ancestors were from the North East of England the blade has obviously been a family heirloom re-hilted as a presentation to GW on the occasion of his first commission.
It is telling that, from then on, when using a smallsword, he favoured colichemarde blades. For example, in 1767 his first colichemarde arrived, in parts, from London, and he gave his previous smallsword to Major George Lewis who was his sister's son and his aide-de-camp during the revolution.
ps
Notice the indication of frequent sharpening to remove nicks.