17th Century Walloon swords

[Will M]

Closest mark I found in the book 1000 Marks of European Bladesmiths, page 113.

[Triarii]

There is a theory that lots of swords not unlike this - date of origin unknown - were captured from the Dutch in the field and in their armouries during the Rampjaar or 'disaster year' of 1672, and that's when they were adopted by the French as a pattern sword, with subsequent French production leading to the 1679.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Triarii

There is a theory that lots of swords not unlike this - date of origin unknown - were captured from the Dutch in the field and in their armouries during the Rampjaar or 'disaster year' of 1672, and that's when they were adopted by the French as a pattern sword, with subsequent French production leading to the 1679.

Are there any confirmed French made examples of the M1679? If so, how do they differ from the Amsterdam town guard Walloons, if at all? I've been looking for pictures.

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by werecow

Are there any confirmed French-made examples of the M1679? If so, how do they differ from the Amsterdam town guard Walloons, if at all? I've been looking for pictures.

This is the problem: I'm not aware of any evidence that there even was a m1679 pattern sword. All we have is a single quote from King Louis XIV wanting an improved sword for the cavalry...

I believe that the French author Christian Aries was the first to connect the 'Amsterdam' sword with that quote, and subsequent authors just followed along without adding any evidence of their own.