A Fully Intact 18th Century Mourning Sword.

This beauty came in not too long ago. I still have to clean it. No, I do not mean the one above....



Fully intact swords like this one are very hard to find. Even the parchment scabbard is intact and without any breaks. The French call this type of small sword an ,, Epee Glaive '', which means ,, Sword hilted small sword ''.



As you can see, the knuckle bow is absent. This type of small sword is a transitional form in the developement from the rapier to the actual small sword and as such is first seen in the 17th century, but lasts right to the end of the 19th century and beyond.
This variation of the type has the decorated flat guillons.






Of course the hilt chain and the belt hook assembly are the first to fall victim of mishaps.



The detail is astonishing. Little steel beads on very thin wire are wound over the steel grip and the entire hilt has a pattern of small steel discs covering it. Even in the discs there is minute hand hammered background detail and every surface is facetted. All of this tells us something about the high standard of craftmanship of the time.



The pommel represents an urn, so the sword can be dated to the end of the 18th century.



Though the type is in fact an Epee de Ville or Epee the Cour, the even black patina on all parts suggests this is a mourning sword.
Epees de Ville or the Cour would display much more ,, glitz '' and the steel would be bright, silver plated or gilded. The little facets would reflect the light and give out a very shiny, jewell like effect.

Here are some other examples of the breed, a mix of military and civillian swords and a link to another one I have: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/46747/hand-protection-late-spanish-papier



Some late 19th century academic ( what else ) got the notion to call these ,, pillow swords '' and this idiot label stuck, at least in the Anglo sphere.
The reasoning, if one could call it that, since it was wholy based on conjecture, was that swords of this kind stood right next to the bed and their only purpose lay in home defence. Luckely it turned out to be a gross misunderstanding of the nature of swords and home defence in general, but, as I said before, the label still is used by the uninformed.
Anyway, the sword may be small, but is still 90 cm long, with a triangular and very stiff bade. Though it may be looking like it is too frail to be handled, the blade sure will punch a nice hole into any impolite street scoundrel.

Thanks for watching, cheers.