Smallsword for comments

TVV · 27th November 2008, 05:56 PM

Here is another one for comments.

The boat shaped hilt is brass(?) and was once gilted. The blade however I do not think is a smallsword one, and I suspect it might have been taken from one of those schlagers popular among German students in the 19th century. Could the hilt be earlier, from a smallsword, or is this simply a fancier schlager?

I have attached some pictures and am looking forward to your comments. I will be gone for the next few days, so please excuse me if I am unable to answer responses to the thread.

Regards,
Teodor

TVV · 1st December 2008, 06:46 PM

I am wondering if I should consider swapping the hilts on the two smallswords in this thread? Unless there is a reason I should both the way they are, I will probably consider doing so, but first I want to get as many opinions as possible.
Thank you,
Teodor

M ELEY · 3rd December 2008, 08:07 AM

Hello Teodor,
The smallsword with the brass boat-shaped hilt is from the German Republics and dates to around 1800-10. I had one very similar a few years back that I had done research on (unfortunately, I don't still have the references to back this assessment, but several others I had been in contact with had also confirmed it). IMHO, the blade, although flimsy, is original to the piece. Many of these, after all, inspired the epee and foils that were to come. The blade on mine was flimsy and particularly plain and strictly for dress.

As far as swapping the hilts...gee, I don't know. I'm sort of a purist when it comes to swords. Composites are not my thing, but that is up to the collector, much as is cleaning a piece, rebluing a blade, firing an old musket, etc.

TVV · 3rd December 2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Hello Teodor,
The smallsword with the brass boat-shaped hilt is from the German Republics and dates to around 1800-10. I had one very similar a few years back that I had done research on (unfortunately, I don't still have the references to back this assessment, but several others I had been in contact with had also confirmed it). IMHO, the blade, although flimsy, is original to the piece. Many of these, after all, inspired the epee and foils that were to come. The blade on mine was flimsy and particularly plain and strictly for dress.

As far as swapping the hilts...gee, I don't know. I'm sort of a purist when it comes to swords. Composites are not my thing, but that is up to the collector, much as is cleaning a piece, rebluing a blade, firing an old musket, etc.

Mark,

Thank you very much. I agree with you that composites are not a good thing. However, I thought that the smallswords I posted in this thread were composites to start with, and so swapping parts would not have changed much.
Now that I know this is not the case for the German smallsword at least, I will be more than happy to leave it as is.

Again, thank you Sir,

Teodor

Paul Macdonald · 5th December 2008, 08:00 PM

The blade on the boat shell smallsword appears to be that of a C19th duelling sabre.

M ELEY · 6th December 2008, 05:23 AM

Hmmm...perhaps I spoke too soon about the blade on this piece. The pics originally gave me the impression that it was like the one on mine, a three-sided blade like those found on many short swords of the period. Having cleaned off my glasses (

), it might in fact be more of the type previously mentioned, such as a schlager. I do apologize for not looking closer.

TVV · 8th December 2008, 07:06 PM

Thank you Paul and Mark,

For confirming my initial impression that the blade was later to the hilt.

Teodor

27th November 2008, 05:56 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	Here is another one for comments. The boat shaped hilt is brass(?) and was once gilted. The blade however I do not think is a smallsword one, and I suspect it might have been taken from one of those schlagers popular among German students in the 19th century. Could the hilt be earlier, from a smallsword, or is this simply a fancier schlager? I have attached some pictures and am looking forward to your comments. I will be gone for the next few days, so please excuse me if I am unable to answer responses to the thread. Regards, Teodor Attached Images

1st December 2008, 06:46 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	I am wondering if I should consider swapping the hilts on the two smallswords in this thread? Unless there is a reason I should both the way they are, I will probably consider doing so, but first I want to get as many opinions as possible. Thank you, Teodor

3rd December 2008, 08:07 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	Hello Teodor, The smallsword with the brass boat-shaped hilt is from the German Republics and dates to around 1800-10. I had one very similar a few years back that I had done research on (unfortunately, I don't still have the references to back this assessment, but several others I had been in contact with had also confirmed it). IMHO, the blade, although flimsy, is original to the piece. Many of these, after all, inspired the epee and foils that were to come. The blade on mine was flimsy and particularly plain and strictly for dress. As far as swapping the hilts...gee, I don't know. I'm sort of a purist when it comes to swords. Composites are not my thing, but that is up to the collector, much as is cleaning a piece, rebluing a blade, firing an old musket, etc.

5th December 2008, 08:00 PM	#5
Paul Macdonald Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 48	The blade on the boat shell smallsword appears to be that of a C19th duelling sabre.

6th December 2008, 05:23 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	Hmmm...perhaps I spoke too soon about the blade on this piece. The pics originally gave me the impression that it was like the one on mine, a three-sided blade like those found on many short swords of the period. Having cleaned off my glasses ( ), it might in fact be more of the type previously mentioned, such as a schlager. I do apologize for not looking closer.

8th December 2008, 07:06 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	Thank you Paul and Mark, For confirming my initial impression that the blade was later to the hilt. Teodor