Help Identifying a sword

Jim McDougall · 10th January 2007, 12:00 AM

Thanks Alan!

Man, you're doing pretty well here!! This looks at the outset like a British officers sword of 18th century, probably Revolutionary War period. I'll wait for more photos, but the hilt looks good, gadrooned band wrap...is this hilt silver mounted?
All the best,
Jim

Alan62 · 10th January 2007, 03:27 AM

Thanks Jim,Yes I believe it to be a silver hilted sword from the late 1700's. I will be bringing it home this coming weekend and will have more detailed pics.It is a very nice one, the blade is very similar to the ivory hilted one with the crosshatching from before....I can't wait to get home and learn more.

Ps can you descibe silver mounted for me

Thanks

Alan62 · 13th January 2007, 02:05 PM

While I am thinking about it do you or anyone else recognize hallmark on this Briquet style saber, It appears to be FC and is stamped in the ricasso . I understand that these swords were widley used by many

ethnicities ie. French ,Spanish,Italian,Polish,German and probably more.I am trying to determine who made and what origin this one has.
It is funny ,These short sabers do not command big dollars and seem to be very plentiful but when it comes to holding a sword in My hand, this one fits and feels more useful than any sword I have ever held and would most likely be my choice in a battle.

Thanks for any input

Alan62 · 13th January 2007, 10:11 PM

Jim
Here are the new pics of the silver hilt, Thanks for your input

Paul Digard · 13th January 2007, 10:36 PM

Alan - lovely sword, but a steel hilt rather than silver surely?

Paul

Alan62 · 14th January 2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Digard

Alan - lovely sword, but a steel hilt rather than silver surely?

Paul

Paul ,Thank You. It was tagged as a "silver hilted sword" . In the pics there are areas that look like a discoloration or brownish. These areas are not rust and only appear in the photos,perhaps a reflection. I really do not know for sure if it is silver or for that matter even what it means when they refer to a sword as "silver hilted" or silver mounted.I have some examples of them in my books but they only reference the makers or the era and not what exactly these terms mean.
Perhaps you or Jim can shed some light on it for me.

Paging Jim McDougall

Paul Digard · 14th January 2007, 09:30 AM

Alan - to me 'silver hilted' means just that. Pommel, guard etc in silver. I have seen silver-hilted spadroons but I'd be amazed if yours was - not just from the colour (and here I'm referring to the shade of the polished areas) but the pitting visible on the close-up shots of the hilt. Silver goes black and wears smoothly from polishing, I've never seen it pit like iron does. I expect the triple stranded wire wrap over the copper on that beautifully wrapped grip is silver but nothing else.

Still a fine late C18 military officer's sword though. How long is the blade and are there any markings on it?

Paul

10th January 2007, 12:00 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,292	Thanks Alan! Man, you're doing pretty well here!! This looks at the outset like a British officers sword of 18th century, probably Revolutionary War period. I'll wait for more photos, but the hilt looks good, gadrooned band wrap...is this hilt silver mounted? All the best, Jim

10th January 2007, 03:27 AM	#2
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	Thanks Jim,Yes I believe it to be a silver hilted sword from the late 1700's. I will be bringing it home this coming weekend and will have more detailed pics.It is a very nice one, the blade is very similar to the ivory hilted one with the crosshatching from before....I can't wait to get home and learn more. Ps can you descibe silver mounted for me Thanks

13th January 2007, 02:05 PM	#3
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	While I am thinking about it do you or anyone else recognize hallmark on this Briquet style saber, It appears to be FC and is stamped in the ricasso . I understand that these swords were widley used by many ethnicities ie. French ,Spanish,Italian,Polish,German and probably more.I am trying to determine who made and what origin this one has. It is funny ,These short sabers do not command big dollars and seem to be very plentiful but when it comes to holding a sword in My hand, this one fits and feels more useful than any sword I have ever held and would most likely be my choice in a battle. Thanks for any input

13th January 2007, 10:11 PM	#4
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	Jim Here are the new pics of the silver hilt, Thanks for your input

13th January 2007, 10:36 PM	#5
Paul Digard Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 13	Alan - lovely sword, but a steel hilt rather than silver surely? Paul

14th January 2007, 09:30 AM	#7
Paul Digard Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 13	Alan - to me 'silver hilted' means just that. Pommel, guard etc in silver. I have seen silver-hilted spadroons but I'd be amazed if yours was - not just from the colour (and here I'm referring to the shade of the polished areas) but the pitting visible on the close-up shots of the hilt. Silver goes black and wears smoothly from polishing, I've never seen it pit like iron does. I expect the triple stranded wire wrap over the copper on that beautifully wrapped grip is silver but nothing else. Still a fine late C18 military officer's sword though. How long is the blade and are there any markings on it? Paul