Smallswords, why the terms pillow and mourning swords?

Jim McDougall · 19th August 2010, 10:29 PM

Absolutely masterful research and detail on these terms Glen!!! Thank you for taking the time to add all this and cite references and details. Its great to see a compendium of material on these terms for those who get as curious as I do about them.

Thank you very much,
All the best,
Jim

M ELEY · 20th August 2010, 09:16 AM

Sorry I forgot to comment back on this thread. Thank you, Glen for the added information. I'm going to try and post a pic of my plain black-hilted smallsword when I can find the time, for the sake of argument...

kronckew · 8th October 2017, 12:09 AM

stumbled on this thread while researching. thought i'd post a photo or two of my cut steel grip mourning sword. it was listed as 19c when i got it, but it appears from the above discusiion it may be earlier. 95cm blade, appears to once have had a chain from the guard to the pommel in lieu of a knuckle bow. sadly no scabbard. i gather the black finish was rather polished to reflect from the steel bobbles jewel-like rather than a dull matte finish.

corrado26 · 8th October 2017, 07:49 AM

I red these posts with great attention because I have in my collection a small sword totally blackened and I didn't know what could have been the reason for this surface treating. On the blade there is a portrait or perhaps a caricature of a person whose meaning is also unknown to me. The sword has a length of 880mm and a total weight of 295g what is very light.
It could be French as well as English.
Thanks for comments
corrado26

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th November 2017, 11:24 AM

Mentioned earlier By Jim at #19 George Washington's portrait and wearing a sword... as below.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th November 2017, 12:26 PM

kronckew · 1st December 2017, 01:47 PM

the lansdown painting above has just come back from cleaning and renovation. full story: HERE

Cleaned portrait - shows the sword a bit better:

8th October 2017, 12:09 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	stumbled on this thread while researching. thought i'd post a photo or two of my cut steel grip mourning sword. it was listed as 19c when i got it, but it appears from the above discusiion it may be earlier. 95cm blade, appears to once have had a chain from the guard to the pommel in lieu of a knuckle bow. sadly no scabbard. i gather the black finish was rather polished to reflect from the steel bobbles jewel-like rather than a dull matte finish. Attached Images

8th October 2017, 07:49 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,231	I red these posts with great attention because I have in my collection a small sword totally blackened and I didn't know what could have been the reason for this surface treating. On the blade there is a portrait or perhaps a caricature of a person whose meaning is also unknown to me. The sword has a length of 880mm and a total weight of 295g what is very light. It could be French as well as English. Thanks for comments corrado26 Attached Images

15th November 2017, 11:24 AM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Mentioned earlier By Jim at #19 George Washington's portrait and wearing a sword... as below. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 15th November 2017 at 12:24 PM.

1st December 2017, 01:47 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	the lansdown painting above has just come back from cleaning and renovation. full story: HERE Cleaned portrait - shows the sword a bit better: Attached Images

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19th August 2010, 10:29 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,278	Absolutely masterful research and detail on these terms Glen!!! Thank you for taking the time to add all this and cite references and details. Its great to see a compendium of material on these terms for those who get as curious as I do about them. Thank you very much, All the best, Jim

20th August 2010, 09:16 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,154	Sorry I forgot to comment back on this thread. Thank you, Glen for the added information. I'm going to try and post a pic of my plain black-hilted smallsword when I can find the time, for the sake of argument...

15th November 2017, 12:26 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408