Swords
Gorgeous c. 1750-1760 British Officer's Spadroon Sword
c. 1750-1760 Colonial to French and Indian War Era with likely American Revolutionary War use, British Officer's Spadroon Sword, Ex: Museum Collection, Choice Extremely Fine.
An impressive, high quality British Officer's Spadroon Sword, likely used in the British American Colonies during the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War Eras. Measures about 38" overall with a 31.25" double edge blade that still retains an edge. This blade dates back to the middle 17th century, and has the profile and temper of a rapier blade. It was common practice that if there was a high quality blade in the family, it was often fitted with a new, more stylish hilt for re-use. It has short fullers at the ricasso which are flanked with engraved borders and are deeply marked "SAHAGON" within, for one of the famous Toledo blade making families. At the terminus of each fuller is the anchor mark. The hilt is of cast and chased brass, and retains about 20% of its original gilt finish, indicating that the officer who carried it was in a gold-laced regiment, as opposed to a silver laced one. All elements of the hilt are embellished with a twisted thick & thin spiral grooving known as "gadrooning". The original grip is of the swollen form, and retains its lavish covering of numerous braided copper wire and crimped copper tape. Ex: Museum Collection, having a tiny white painted collection identification number hidden on the blade below the hilt. This example is the finest "museum" quality sword of this type we have had the pleasure of offer, worthy of competitive bidding, as it appears excellent for display.
A "Spadroon" is a light sword with a straight edged blade, enabling both cut and thrust attacks. This English term first came in to use in the early 18th century, though the type of sword it referred to was also in common usage during the late 17th century. They were primarily used as a military, both army & navy sidearm in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and for officers and NCOs in the latter part of the 18th century. The type of Sword saw widespread use across Europe and the American Colonies. The term 'Spadroon' is unique to the Anglophone world. "Spadroon" is a type of sword that is in between a small sword (which thrusts only), and the heavier bladed Broadsword. They may have single or double edged blades, and hilt types ranging from a simple stirrup guard, to double shells, and even further protection to the sides of the hand. The important distinction being a Spadroon is fast and agile, due to having little mass at the tip of the blade, and a hilt that does not restrict wrist mobility in any way.