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26th March 2008, 05:51 AM
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#1 |
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Location: NC, U.S.A.
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020- A collection of short swords/hangers. Many of these were very popular with sailors due to their small size (avoidance of getting tangled in the rigging) and inexpensive nature.
Top one is probably French and has definate characteristics of a sea sword per Rankin (Naval Swords), including a plain, undecorated blade, brass fittings (resist sea air) and nautical hilt motiffs (this one with shells, sea grass, ocean waves), circa 1770's-80's. Middle one discussed in days of yore on the forum! Dutch hanger, ca.1660-80, with carved Singhalese hilt of lion with hunting dog guard/finials carved in tropical wood. Probabaly dating to the Anglo-Dutch Wars, marking a series of 4 dots making a diamond shape (this pattern seen on early Singhalese coins circa 300AD called the 'maneless lion coins", but also seen on Dutch Dump coins of the period) Final hanger is Dutch, marked with sword maker/sharpener and owner and the street where it was made, plus "Amsterdam". From Colonial Williamsburg area... |
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26th March 2008, 06:08 AM
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#2 |
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019- Ahhh! The boarding cutlass!
 Sorry...couldn't resist!The top one I believe to either be an original American boarding cutlass or one made from an earlier cut-down model. Either way, it's private purchase, probably 1805-40 period. The blade with even pitting (like other sea swords I've seen with salt exposure) and a long straight blade with abrupt curve at end like other American swords seen in Neumann's Swords/Blades of the Amer Revolution. Round disc iron guard tarred/blackened for sea service (rust protection), ribbed grip in imitation of naval issue boarding cutlass of the period. Here's the odd thing...the blade isn't piened. It appears the hilt was made hollow and the tang set into it followed by poured molten brass! It's quite secure, but hadn't seen anything else like it. So-called private purchase swords came in all manner of styles (someone needs to write a book on them!!) The second cutlass in the classic British M1803 with "Figure of 8" hilt/guard. Ribbed iron grip/guard primed black for rust resistance. Straight blade with block letter "GR" George Rex over crown. Most are cursive lettering, so I think this sword of later manufacture (1810-20). This is similar to Jack Sparrow's sword in the film...great flick, but the timeline for this weapon carried in that film all wrong. |
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26th March 2008, 02:16 PM
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#3 | |
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Location: Greensboro, NC
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26th March 2008, 04:38 PM
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#4 |
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Arms Historian
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Location: Route 66
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Mark, these are incredible groupings of weapons! and exactly what I was hoping for when I first posted the pirate weapons thread (and thank you Rick for posting these!).
You have clearly done meticulous research on these, and the identifications are great, clearly captioning each item. In 023, the second sword down (between the two Spanish swords) with the striated shellguard, I have discovered recently is of a form that is apparantly regarded as Brazilian and termed espada ancha. These swords with the interesting hilt that has nocked grip similar to Moroccan nimchas, and the heavy shell guard, seem to date to end of 18th c. to middle of the 19th. While the 'Golden Age' of piracy actually ended about 1718, this much romanticized period by no means suggests that piracy did not exist before it began, nor certainly when it 'ended'. The Spanish trade routes throughout the Caribbean, Florida, Cuba, Mexico and South America extended to Spanish Morocco as well. There were of course pirates that sailed from Brazilian regions, and this activity prevailed from c.1800 well into the 19th c. The third sword down (just below the Brazilian espada ancha) is of course the Spanish dragoon type sword commonly termed the 'bilbo' (presumably from the bilobate guard, however the term is a collectors term which remains speculative). It is significant to note here that it seems many of these seem to have provenanced from Cuba and eastern Mexican port regions. The next sword, with eagle hilt, is another I recall our discussions on. The blade is one of the well known trade blades usually associated with Spanish colonial swords of late 18th c.These often carry the 'Spanish Motto' and now are believed to have been Solingen made for export from c.1750-1810. While I am somewhat unfamiliar with dirks, in the two shown in the photo, I think it is significant to note that the three other swords seem to be well placed as examples of the types of swords that would have potentially been in use in the period and regions of later piracy on the "Spanish Main" from the opening of the 19th century and well on later. Fantastic displays!!!  Thank you so much for sharing these. Being able to look at these adds whole new dimension to reading on pirates, and enjoying these great adventures,All the very best, Jim |
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27th March 2008, 02:38 AM
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#5 |
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Thanks so much, Jim! It means alot to have your input. The attribution to an espada is fascinating, as I have ended up with a grouping of these swords quite by but now they fit nicely in the pirate/privateer theme. I am surprised at your memory of the eagle hilt (actually, it's a primative lion head) and you are exactly right in that it does have the Spanish motto and is marked Solingen. There are a couple more pics of these swords in 023 coming up as well as a few other sundry pieces.
018- More detail of the 3 sabers from the first photo. The middle one already discussed as the M1799. The bottom piece a Spanish broadsword, ca.1790-1820. The top one a true AMerican piece, circa 1780-1810, with typical pommel, ivory/bone grip, European blade with splays of arms, etc. At one time, the guard apparently damaged and replaced with a simple crosspiece of walnut. |
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27th March 2008, 02:39 AM
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#6 |
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017- A closeup of the above grouping...
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27th March 2008, 02:40 AM
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#7 |
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016- A closeup of the cast lionhead hilt...
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27th March 2008, 04:13 AM
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27th March 2008, 04:12 AM
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#9 | |
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26th March 2008, 02:15 PM
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#10 | |
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