French fourbisseur PIERRE SOMME 1760-1806

[Edster]

Jim,

You probably have this one for his mark:

https://www.louiseantiquites.com/en/...and-two-stars/

Best,
Ed

[Jim McDougall]

[QUOTE=Edster;276515]Jim,

You probably have this one for his mark:

https://www.louiseantiquites.com/en/...and-two-stars/

Best,
Ed[/QUOTE

Thanks very much Ed! I have a huge hole in my library that should have French info :_) That answers my question perfectly.

Best
Jim

[Ian]

Sending this one over to the Euro Armory forum.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ian

Sending this one over to the Euro Armory forum.

Thank you Ian, mi faux pas

[Richard G]

Jim,
Is it possible your briquet is not Paul Storr but Pierre Somme?
The latter being a cutler, it would make more sense, or is this why you're asking?
Regards
Richard

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Jim,
Is it possible your briquet is not Paul Storr but Pierre Somme?
The latter being a cutler, it would make more sense, or is this why you're asking?
Regards
Richard

Thank you Richard. The Pierre Somme possibility has been suggested privately, but in reviewing his marks he seems to have used his middle initial as well, and it seems in France poincons appear to be placed on blades, not hilts, at least in the numbers of examples I have looked at.
He seems to have been a cutler, as you note, but like Storr, more involved in fine wares.

While it seems the consensus has been thus far that NO briquets were ever part of the swords used by British forces, the inclusion of them in the references by Blair; Wilkinson-Latham and Robson has led to the notion that some were.
The challenge has been to show ANY example of a briquet with any sort of British marks, or supporting provenance. In Wilkinson-Latham (1966) he shows an example of one and indicates there is a name on the blade, TROTTER, and suggests date c. 1814.
John Trotter was the first storekeeper general in the British army in 1807, but had been a major supplier of military equipage in 1794.

The PS cartouche on my example, despite being effectively the hallmark or touch mark registered by Paul Storr in 1793, is of course oddly out of place in the brass hilt of a munitions briquet. However in this period, when England had begun war with France, the military was in rather a disorganized state. It is noted that in many cases tradesmen and artisans crossed over into various areas of production. As he had not yet reached his well known fame, it seemed possible this might be the case.

I have yet to see any French briquet with poincon of maker in hilts in this location, or for that matter at all anywhere on the hilt. Most seem to have various numbers etc. in that hilt position.
I have not found any other explanation for the distinct PS otherwise associated with Paul Storr on silver wares, appearing on the hilt of my briquet.

As it does correspond to the 28 ridges of the French hilts, the possibility is that it was cast from a French example, in the affinity of the period for many French designs etc.
In these times, ersatz equipment was of course prevalent, especially for privately raised support units, so of course something hard to define as outside 'official' regulation or orders.

[Richard G]

Jim,
I have difficulty believing Paul Storr ever actually made briquets. He has been researched extensively and it has never been suggested (to my knowledge). There is the possibility, however, that it is a retail mark. We know he was as much a businessman as a skilled silversmith and he may have simply seen an opportunity for profit supplying bought in briquets for the needs of one or more of his many rich and important customers. If we let our imaginations rip it could even be an ownership mark; for I am sure his premises, containing significant amounts of precious metal, needed guards and watchmen. As would many premises in the wealthy areas of London in those days.
Of course this is speculation, but remember that John Field, 'founder' of Parker-Field, important suppliers of weaponry to the non-military, started off as a goldsmith.
Regards
Richard