A simple but interesting smallsword

Norman McCormick · 20th February 2021, 05:42 PM

Hi Wayne,
The sword with the silk has a cut and thrust blade but a smallsword type hilt without a working Pas-de Ane. The 1796 N.C.O. sword is a plain version of the officers 1796 albeit with a substantial blade unlike most of the officer versions. One of the swords I show can more easily be defined as a smallsword. and one as a spadroon type, according to the definition that a spadroon has a cut and thrust blade, but the other one has elements of both albeit the useful smallsword part i.e. the Pas-de Ane is not workable therefore does this not negate using a smallsword reference to this type of hilt, maybe maybe not?
My Regards,
Norman.

kronckew · 20th February 2021, 06:07 PM

True, just thought some illustrations of the more 'standard' swords mentioned would help. The 5-ball UK spadroons would have had a pommel more similar to my hanger at the bottom. The vestigal 'pas' was dropped on the Official UK 1796 Officers sword, tho I'd bet a lot of officers still wanted their own variations for a while. the 'pas' does help align the edge better for a cut, but not strictly needed for a thrust - which is why I assume they eventually morphed out of existance.

M ELEY · 21st February 2021, 05:41 AM

Thank you both for posting these great contributions to this thread. I particularly like the naval pattern spadroons, of which I haven't yet added to my maritime collection. I've always been drawn to them and I think I'll keep an eye open for one! I have seen a few 'balled hilts' that were naval as well, but I know it was a popular model with infantry.

20th February 2021, 05:42 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,637	Hi Wayne, The sword with the silk has a cut and thrust blade but a smallsword type hilt without a working Pas-de Ane. The 1796 N.C.O. sword is a plain version of the officers 1796 albeit with a substantial blade unlike most of the officer versions. One of the swords I show can more easily be defined as a smallsword. and one as a spadroon type, according to the definition that a spadroon has a cut and thrust blade, but the other one has elements of both albeit the useful smallsword part i.e. the Pas-de Ane is not workable therefore does this not negate using a smallsword reference to this type of hilt, maybe maybe not? My Regards, Norman. Attached Images

20th February 2021, 06:07 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	True, just thought some illustrations of the more 'standard' swords mentioned would help. The 5-ball UK spadroons would have had a pommel more similar to my hanger at the bottom. The vestigal 'pas' was dropped on the Official UK 1796 Officers sword, tho I'd bet a lot of officers still wanted their own variations for a while. the 'pas' does help align the edge better for a cut, but not strictly needed for a thrust - which is why I assume they eventually morphed out of existance.

21st February 2021, 05:41 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Thank you both for posting these great contributions to this thread. I particularly like the naval pattern spadroons, of which I haven't yet added to my maritime collection. I've always been drawn to them and I think I'll keep an eye open for one! I have seen a few 'balled hilts' that were naval as well, but I know it was a popular model with infantry.