Browse Items (100 total)

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As the dashing Hussars won acclaim from most northern continental countries in the mid 1700's, their uniforms and weapons were closely imitated. This included their light saber with a curved blade. It began to gain acceptance in England by the 1770's…

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This hilt illustrates some of the fine cut steel work from England contemporary with the last years of the War for Independence. The spaces between its side branches are now filled with prolific designs creating a semi-basket guard which also expands…

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This English wall gun has Brass furniture and massive steel rammer secured by four pipes connected to a full length stock supporting a pinned barrel for total approximate weight of 32 pounds. It has an original .25 inch hole through stock behind rear…

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Near the mid 1700's the French popularized a variation of the hunting sword pattern usually mounted in silver, with short opposite curving quillons (counterguards) projection as frail counterguards. These dress swords were called "couteau-de-chasse".…

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One of the interesting aspects of the small sword was the blade. Designed for thrusting, its cross section assumed many forms - principally elliptical, triangular, diamond, and hexagonal. This one is an undulating "flamboyant" pattern. It is…

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This early small sword further illustrates the pattern's 17th century evolution from the heavy rapier. The double-ended quillions were forged as one piece to include the uneven pas d'ane (or "arms of the hilt"). Its tall thin cylindrical grip is…

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This French fusil includes a walnut stock which secures the iron barrel using three brass barrel bands. The stock is surcharged “U STATES” on the butt stock, signifying government ownership by the young United States. This practice was adopted by…

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The design of this example is plainer, but it mounts a heavier curved blade and a fighting man's thumb ring. The white bone grip has spiraling grooves through which pass a single twisted copper wire rope. A true flat cap serves as the pommel. The…

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This better quality specimen was probably used by a noncom or officer, but it still bears the large military fleur-de-lis stamp on both faces of the blade. The brass is embellished with raised 18th century designs, including a military panoply of…

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This model offered advanced improvements in French musket design during the 18th century which would carry into the Napoleonic War years. The earliest muskets of the 1777 model were issued to forces under General Rochambeau's Army who arrived in…
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