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Title Copy of Revolutionary-era civic sword, bone hilt
Nationality French
Period 19th century
Price £90.00
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This is a copy of the typical French Revolutonary-era sword used by politicians (see David's 1794 designs for the politicians' costumes). The Ecole de Mars sword was similar, differing only in having an iron guard extending on either side of the blade and defending the knuckles.

The crossguard is of hardwood, encased in brass sheeting, with die-struck floral-decorated brass balls (hollow) forming the ends of the guard and the pommel. There are traces of ormulu on all the balls. One of the balls on the guard has been repaired internally with epoxy resin (I unscrewed them both to look). (I cleaned the brass on the crossguard subsequent to taking the first two photographs.)

The grip is of one-piece bone, carved with finger grips, and with decorative fleche ornamentation at top and bottom. The tang is peened over at the pommel in the normal manner. The hilt is a little loose.

The blade is double-edged, with a long (some 10 inches) single fuller running down both sides. The blade has only been sharpened for the last 8 inches and there is the faint trace of a lap weld at about 8 inches from the forte on both sides, indicating a late-18th century provenance. I have seen this on cutlass blades of this period where a full half of the blade is iron and only the last half of steel, lap welded into the iron, as in this case where the blade is 17.5 inches long and similarly nearly half of iron, with the remainder (towards the point) being of steel. It was a form of cheaper construction used extensively by sword cutlers at the end of the 18th century.

There are some striations throughout the blade, also indicating the age of the blade. The vogue for these went along with the fashion for Roman-style dress worn by French senators in the mid-1790s.

This copy is made from some original parts, certainly the blade and possibly the pommel and grip.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.


[Edged Weapons : Swords : French : 19th Century]

testimonials

I receive the cap this day, I very happy. This cap is very beautiful. I hope that find other beautiful items in your shop. Many thanks.

S T, France, 12.03.2010

Good news, my friend, the boot knife has arrived safe and sound. This example will more than fill my collection need.

R M, USA, 01.05.2008

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