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Old 17th June 2011, 11:29 PM   #2
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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This is an extremely handsome sword Fernando, and truly has certain flair for the fashionable gentleman, yet could certainly be deadly as required. I would imagine that these would have been somewhat questionable in pitched combat or duelling, but certainly used in the heat of anger in dispute would touch thier mark.

Without really going into the references, this seems to me to be from around mid to third quarter 18th century as the perpendicular rise in the crossguard reminds me of the English spadroons of around 1780s. Naturally I cannot suggest a connection without research further but its simply the period I associate with the feature. The chain guard as far as I know was not typically seen on hunting, court or smallswords until around the middle of the 18th or slightly before. I would suspect someone might find an example, but in research looking for one a short time ago I could not locate one before mid 18th.

Nicely done as always!!!
Stay thirsty my friend!
Jim
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