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Nation : British
Local Price : £2150

Fine English Silver Hilted Small Sword by John Bennett Hallmarked for 1762 / 1763 mounted with a Boat Shell Hilt and Colichemarde Blade. A fine silver hilted smallsword by John Bennett date-stamped for 1762 / 1763. The bold hilt is of boat shell type which was one of the most robust hilt designs adopted by the London silver hilted small sword makers working in the 18th century. The sword is mounted with a broad robust colichemarde blade. John Bennett was one of the most renowned 18th century London silversmith / cutlers but surviving swords made by him are generally encountered less frequently than those of his competitors. The dish guard, pommel and ricasso are shaped en suite with well executed gadrooned lines and borders. The baluster shaped wooden grip is diagonally bound with silver strip interspaced with a double length of roped silver wire. The broad colichemarde blade is of stiff triangular section and retains is clearly engraved panels of strapwork near the hilt. The four hallmarks are stamped onto the knucklebow near the hilt. These consist of the maker's mark “I . B” with a pellet between in raised relief inside a depressed rectangular panel, the lion passant mark, the crowned leopard's head assay mark and the date stamp. The hilt is as much an example of the high standards of design and execution required of the 18th century London silversmith and cutler as it is of an effective weapon. Silver hilted small swords were fashionable attire for 18th century gentlemen. Mostly worn for effect, someone wearing such a sword was also announcing to the world that he could use it. Despite the stylish and delicate appearance of these swords they were formidable dueling weapons. . There are some minor light blackened patches of old pitting near the middle of the blade but otherwise the sword is in fine condition overall. There are no losses or repairs to the hilt which has maintained its original pleasing outline. The blade is 30.5 inches (80 cm) long and overall the sword is 37.25 inches (94.5 cm) long. John Bennett was one of the most influential and foremost makers of silver hilted swords working in London in the middle of the 18th century and made swords for the London social and military elites. He and his son (John Bennett II) were also gunsmiths, jewellers and goldsmiths. They were based at Threadneedle Street in the City of London. Both were prominent members of the Cutlers’ Company and served in all the major posts including Master. John Bennett (I) lived from 1708/9 to 1774. In 1723 he started his apprenticeship with John Carmen, another important London silver hilted sword maker. He was sworn free of the Cutlers’ Company in 1731 and entered his first mark of “I B” inside a rectangle in the Smallworkers’ Book at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1732. John Bennett’s second known mark was entered in 1761, same as the first, with a pellet between the letters, which is the mark on this sword. The mark of John Bennett (II) may have been similar. However, the date stamp of 1762/1763 on this sword predates his freedom to practice in his own right from when he was sworn free of the Cutlers’ Company in 1765. As a result the mark on this sword is most certainly by John Bennett (I). For other silver hilted small swords by John Bennett see Leslie Southwick, “London Silver-hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, and for further information on his working life of see page 45.

Nation : French
Local Price : £2975.00

A Magnificent 18th Century Silver Hilted Small Sword, Dated 1758, with Colichmarde Blade. This Is One Of The Most Beautiful To Be Seen. A combination of the finest 18th century artisan's skill of both a silversmith and bespoke swordsmith. Circa 1758 and IC , probably John Carman of London. General George Washington, later the first President of the United States, had a very similar sword that he used during his service as commander of the new American Army in the American War of Independance from 1776 onwards Ideal in its day for duelling or close quarter combat, as well as being a simply fabulous, finest quality sword of immense beauty. Fine cast and chased silver hilt in the elegant rococo style with double shell guard single knucklebow and pas dans. The grip is bound in its original twisted silver wire. The guard has enchanting and highest quality workmanship with a scrolling, pierced, rococo shell pattern with florid embellishments thoughout. Colishmarde blade with bright steel finish. The highly distinctive colishmarde blades appeared in 1680 and were popular during the next 40 years at the royal European courts. The colichemarde bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. The colichemarde descended from the so-called "transition rapier", which appeared because of a need for a lighter sword, better suited to parrying. It was not so heavy at its point; it was shorter and allowed a limited range of double time moves.The colichemarde in turn appeared as a thrusting blade too and also with a good parrying level, hence the strange, yet successful shape of the blade. This sword appeared at about the same time as the foil. However the foil was created for practising fencing at court, while the colichemarde was created for dueling. With the appearance of pocket pistols as a self-defense weapon, the colichemardes found an even more extensive use in dueling. This was achieved thanks to a wide forte (often with several fullers), which then stepped down in width after the fullers ended.The result of this strange shape was a higher maneuverability of the sword: with the weight of the blade concentrated in one's hand it became possible to maneuver the blade at a greater speed and with a higher degree of control, allowing the fencer to place a precise thrust at his/her adversary. This sword is a true work of art, in it's beauty form, quality and balance. The small sword or smallsword is a light one-handed rapier type sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier (espada ropera) of the late Renaissance. The height of the small sword's popularity was during the 18th century, when any civilian or military, with pretensions to gentlemanly status would have worn a small sword on a daily basis. The blade of a small sword is comparatively short at around 0.6 to 0.85 metres (24 to 33 in), though some reach over 1 metre (39 in). It usually tapers to a sharp point but may lack a cutting edge. It is typically triangular in cross-section, although some of the early examples still have the rhombic and spindle-shaped cross-sections inherited from older weapons, like the rapier. This triangular cross-section may be hollow ground for additional lightness. Many small swords of the period between the 17th and 18th centuries were found with colichemarde blades. 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 duelling sword (from which the épée developed) and its method of use—as typified in the works of such authors as Sieur de Liancour, Domenico Angelo, Monsieur J. Olivier and Monsieur L'Abbat—developed into the techniques of the French classical school of fencing. The small sword was mainly used as a duelling weapon. Militarily, small swords continued to be used as a standard sidearm for infantry officers.Small swords were used both by the military (where they served more as a sign of a certain rank rather than a real weapon for close combat) and as a dueling weapon. The very height of the small sword's widespread popularity was in the 18th century, when it was considered fashionable by aristocrats ("no gentleman was dressed without his sword" – contemporary idiom of the middle of the 18th century), but it was still used as a duelling weapon John Carman (II) was indentured to his father on 19 June 1736 at the age of fourteen. He was elected Master of the Cutlers' Company in 1761 and died in 1764 at the age of 41.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £2,075.00

**EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF ONLY APPROX 6000**Original, Pre WW2 Japanese NCO’s 1st Pattern, Type 95 Katana With Solid Copper Hilt, Suya (Harp) & Tokyo Kokura Arsenal Marks & Scabbard. Sn 20649 -. On September 16th 1935 a new sword was authorised for Japanese army NCO’s. 1st type sword hilts were made from solid unpainted copper, later variants had cast alloy painted hilts (see page 183 of Swords Of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 by Dawson). Only approx 6,000 1st type copper hilt NCO swords were made before introduction of alloy hilt variants. This is an original extremely rare 1st type pre WW2 Japanese NCO’s Katana with copper hilt and scabbard. The sword has the correct solid copper unpainted cast handle with lanyard ring hole fitted with steel cord sarute loop, quality heavy brass tsuba and scabbard retaining clip which functions as it should. It has an undamaged, fullered, 27 ½” blade which has just light staining consistent with age. The blade is numbered ‘6321’ on one side above the fuller. The copper hilt is stamped with 1929-45 Kokura Arsenal mark, Suya sword shop (Harp) mark (see page 185 of Dawson’s book) and inspection mark. It is complete with its scabbard which has a single hanging ring. The scabbard has no damage. The throat of the scabbard is numbered ‘7199’. The price for this nicely marked rare piece includes UK delivery. Sn 20649

Nation : French
Local Price : £2,050.00

French Resturation ‘Garde de Royal.... French Resturation period, officers Garde de Royal Regiment De Lanciers (Royal Guard Lancers) sword. Polished steel hilt with light cavalry style three

Nation : ?
Local Price : 2,850.00 USD

RARE EUROPEAN SILVER-ENCRUSTED TRANSITIONAL RAPIER FOR A BOY, C.1680-1700. Steel hilt with pierced asymmetrical shell guards, embellished overall with silver appliqués including portrait heads on the shells and pommel. The balance features a variety of foliage and geometric themes. Silver wire-wrapped grip. 25" rapier blade with deep fuller at the forte, marked: A N T O XXX I N I O / E N T O L E D O. The silver is about complete with expected wear. The blade is excellent. A fine quality example made for a boy of noble or royal class, maturing in preparation for his place as a leader and, probably, soldier.

Nation : -
Local Price : $1,995.00

North European Broadsword, ca. 1630. Iron hilt formed of flat bars and comprising asymmetrical side rings, each filled with a plate pierced with round holes in rosette patterns; vertically recurved quillons. Original wood grip (split, but sound), lacking wire wrap, but retaining copper Turks heads top and bottom. Flattened heart-shaped pommel with button (button chipped). Unmarked double-edged 32” (81.3 cm) blade of flattened diamond section. Iron parts pitted with rust patina. Overall length 38” (96.5 cm). Sword of the type carried by Protestant troops during the Thirty Years War, a particularly brutal conflict that ravaged Central Europe and inflicted an estimated 4.5 to 8 million military and civilian deaths.

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : $1,995.00

Unusual Spanish Broadsword, 17th C. Iron hilt consisting of short, straight, undecorated quillons, knuckle bow with simple decoration at its finial, unusually large pas d’ane, small integrally forged pierced and faceted guard with painted inventory number; bun-shaped pommel with turned baluster base and large button. Original wood grip, having long ago lost its wrap. Broad 33 1/2” (85 cm) blade with mid-length central fuller marked with undecipherable maker’s mark; the ricasso notched later for a forefinger rest. We believe this was period modified from a cup-hilted broadsword, with cup removed, quillons shortened, and the original guardopolvo serving as the current guard. Probably a captured or battlefield pickup piece period altered for actual use, and possibly with piracy association. Overall length 38 1/4” (97.1 cm). Formerly in the War Museum Collection.

Nation : French
Local Price : $1,995.00

US M1832 Foot Artillery Sword by Ames. In 1833 the Ames Manufacturing Company began production of a new sword for regular artillery regiments. US Ordnance Regulations of 1834 and 1839 also called for this sword’s use by the infantry. Ames was the sole maker of this model until the last 300 examples were delivered on May 24, 1862. From 1832 to 1862, Ames produced 20,100 of these. Like most sword patterns of the time, it was patterned after a French model in current use. The French sword was actually an adaptation of the ancient Roman gladius. As a weapon, it was impractical and rarely used in that capacity, but it was often used to clear brush or other obstacles to prepare for the setup of artillery pieces. As such, many examples are badly worn. This example with waisted 19 1/4″ blade with two short stopped fullers and a longer stopped central fuller; stamped with an eagle over “N.P. AMES/CABOTVILLE” on one side and “US/1845/NWP” (Nahaun W. Patch, civilian inspector) on the other. Blades made after 1848 did not have the eagle stamp. One-piece cast brass hilt with scaled grip riveted through the blade tang with two rivets, bun-shaped pommel with an eagle and shield on both sides, and short straight quillons with rounded terminals; stamped on one side “WAT” in script (William A. Thornton, Captain. US Army), and “NWP” on the other. Original black leather scabbard with brass drag and throat with frog button, each with the correct two small rivets. The scabbard drag nipple is stamped with a small “WAT” on one side and “JH” (John or Joseph Hannis, arsenal inspectors, 1844-1864) on the other. Sub-inspectors with JH initials were also James Harris and John Hawkins, both active with the Ordnance Department between 1837 and 1851. Very fine original condition, the blade smooth with gunmetal gray patina and generally clear markings. Hilt with pleasing golden brown patina; darker in recesses and the end of the pommel. Scabbard sound and stitching intact, showing crackling; the brass mounts with dark patina and a few shallow dents in the drag. An excellent, well-marked example which is possibly a veteran of both the Mexican War and the Civil War.