French Smallsword - Napoleonic?

blue lander · 28th February 2014, 10:32 PM

I bought this as a French police smallsword, but I believe it's an NCO's private purchase smallsword because of the flaming bomb on the pommel. The blade is marked "I.G.B" which I've read is the mark of Johann und Clemens Boegel of Solingen. There are other decorations on the blade but it's mostly flowers and vases. The quillion's snapped off.

It looks like the shell guard used to have an emblem on it that was later removed. I read of other swords that had the fleur de lis removed from them during the Republic or Napoleonic era. Does that seem like a plausible explanation for this sword?

28th February 2014, 10:32 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	French Smallsword - Napoleonic? I bought this as a French police smallsword, but I believe it's an NCO's private purchase smallsword because of the flaming bomb on the pommel. The blade is marked "I.G.B" which I've read is the mark of Johann und Clemens Boegel of Solingen. There are other decorations on the blade but it's mostly flowers and vases. The quillion's snapped off. It looks like the shell guard used to have an emblem on it that was later removed. I read of other swords that had the fleur de lis removed from them during the Republic or Napoleonic era. Does that seem like a plausible explanation for this sword? Attached Images