Court / Diplomatic Small Sword With Ornate Brass Clam Shell Hilt & Scabbard Court / Diplomatic Small Sword With Ornate Brass Clam Shell Hilt & Scabbard Swords

Victorian Court / Diplomatic Small Sword With Ornate Brass Clam Shell Hilt & Scabbard. Sn 18015:2 - 18015:2

The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, French: épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance. The height of the small sword's popularity was between mid 17th and late 18th century. It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the French dueling sword (from which the épée developed. This is an excellent original late Victorian Court / Diplomatic small sword (see pages 270 to 282 of Wither’s book ‘World Swords’ where many variants of small sword are illustrated). It has the typical brass hilt with cross guard clam shell mount. The clam shell has ornate embossed decoration. It has a bar knuckle guard, Crown pommel & Dog’s head finial. The leather & wire binding on the wood handle is tight and intact. The slim 30” triangular section blade is straight and undamaged and has just staining consistent with age. The sword measures 35 ½” overall. It is complete with its original leather bound wood scabbard which has steel mounts and 2 hanging rings. The price for this attractive Court / Diplomatic small sword includes UK delivery. Sn 18015:2

£795.00