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 wound with a double strand rope of fine copper wire, while the bilobate counterguard (i.e. two "shells") has a smooth surface above and raised foliage designs beneath. Its double-edged straight blade holds a 1" rectangular ricasso, convex faces, and a 1/8" X 7" central fuller.
Length: 40 3/4"
Blade: 34 3/4" x 11/16"
Weight 1.0 lb.
Hilt: Iron
Source
George C. Neumann, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, (Harrisburg: Stackpole Books, 1973), 127. (197.S)
Date
c. 1660-1670
Rights
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
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 primarily for decoration, but has both edges sharpened, and a flattened center ridge. The pierced steel hilt displays open panoplies of arms on both shells of the guard, plus a wire and band wrapped rectangular hilt. Note, too, that the pas d'ane continue to flatten.
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". The early example shown here mounts an ivory grip having brass ropes in its grooves and a rosette-shaped flat pommel. Note that the down-curving quillon also includes the early small final (17th century) at its tip. The substantial double-edged straight blade has two 6 1/2" middle fullers containing star-like marks.