A sword that to give a proper description is a mid 17th century to early 18th century ambidextrous cross hilted transitional rapier but since that's a mouthful I call these "Hope style smallswords".
I use this name to describe these because the most prominent piece of work showing them is the work of Sir William Hope (1670-1774), a fencing master who published many fencing manuals over the course of his career with many images showing these cross hilted smallswords.
Whilst the naming of swords c1700 was very vague, hence the modern need to use full sentences to name them, he primarily worked with smallswords and spadroons and these cross hilted thrust centric (but still cut capable) weapons we'd today describe broadly as rapiers come under smallsword at the time despite being huge.
Another fun thing about this sword is that whilst I was cleaning up the blade, the marking on the ricasso became clearer, an engraved legend "demafco" which using the medial S rather than f becomes Demasco, the 17th century Spanish spelling of Damascus, surrounded by some faux Damascus engravings. However somewhat curious whilst cleaning up the blade I etched it and found a really rather pleasant pattern weld and edge hardening line, something I don't think I've seen on a late rapier blade before!
Can be yours for £1000 or best offer.
Order Code: TTSG2118
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