C1750 French Form Child Size Small Court Sword With Ornate Brass Hilt Swords

C1750 French Form Child Size Small Court Sword With Ornate Brass Hilt. Sn 19240

The small sword (also court sword, French: épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance. The height of the small sword's popularity was between mid 17th and late 18th century. It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the French duelling sword (from which the épée developed). This is an excellent original C1750 small sword with ornate brass hilt (see page 277 of Wither’s book ‘World Swords’ where a similar C1750 brass hilt small sword is illustrated). It has deep cast decoration to the small size grip, shell guard, quillon, knuckle bow & urn shaped pommel. The 20 ½” tapering rapier type blade has double fullers and is undamaged with just light staining consistent with age. Both sides of the blade have indistinct engraved signatures (illustrated). The blade has a leather hilt washer. The child size sword measures 25 ½” overall. There are no visible manufacturer marks on the sword. As is common our example is without scabbard. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 19240

£475.00