Neopolitan Schiavona of Third Coalition 1793-1806

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

Hi Jim. Must declare we have our own Cathey to thank for her very comprehensive visual dating history of schiavonas; look up her article, she posted it on this forum and it is listed in the forum library..

Well noted Keith! Cathey always does superb and detailed research and everything she posts is essential in the archives here.
I think your idea on this schiavona as likely much earlier into 18th century and inscribed later in the time of Ferdinand IV is well . It has become more a question of whether this sword with inscription would fall into the Third Coalition period, and I feel pretty sure it does.

When I got this schiavona years ago I felt disappointed as the Ferdinand IV seemed so late, but now I realize this sword is from a remarkably esoteric sector of the Napoleonic campaigns. I had not realized that the Third Coalition battle at Austerlitz was the first conflict of these campaigns.
We never know what further history is often held in these weapons which would never be realized unless we dig deep enough.