C1870 Victorian British ‘Ede Son & Ravenscroft Chancery Lane (London)’ Royal Household Court Small Sword With Ornate Brass Hilt & Scabbard With Frog. Sn 20739:6 Swords

C1870 Victorian British ‘Ede Son & Ravenscroft Chancery Lane (London)’ Royal Household Court Small Sword With Ornate Brass Hilt & Scabbard With Frog. Sn 20739:6 - 20739:6

The small sword (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 C1870 Victorian British Royal Household Court Small Sword (see page 280 of Wither’s book ‘World Swords’ where a C1870 British Royal Court Sword with the same hilt as ours is illustrated). It has an ornate cast brass hilt with cross guard & clam shell. The clam shell has ornate decoration. It has a bar knuckle guard & Crown type pommel. The slim 31 ½” blade is straight and undamaged and has just staining consistent with age. The blade is etched on both sides with foliate decoration. One side has a panel with the maker or retailers name & address ‘Ede Son & Ravenscroft Chancery Lane (London)’ (Established 1689 and still in business today as Ede & Ravenscroft, the Company provided the Royal Household, Judiciary and Ministers with robes and other accoutrements). The sword measures 38” overall. It is complete with its original leather bound wood scabbard which has brass mounts. The throat mount is fitted with a simple small leather frog with belt loop. The price for this Royal Household court sword includes UK delivery. Sn 20739:6

£495.00