An 18th Century English Small Sword Circa 1760

An English small sword often favoured by English naval officers, in blackened cut steel [as this type of finish inhibited rust], single knuckle bow and an ovoid neo classical pommel with a fine diamond cut pattern. Plain wooden grip oval guard with small pas dan. Hollow trefoil blade with central fuller. Original blackened finish. One pas dans and the quillon have been shortened. See the standard work "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" by George C. Neumann Published 1973. Sword 216s. Page 136 for two very similar swords. A particular painting showing a very good example of this is in the National Maritime Museum and it is most similar. The painting is of British Naval Captain Hugh Palliser, who wears the same form of sword with a blackened hilt , but with a gold sword knot which gave it a sleek overall appearance. A full-length portrait of Sir Hugh Palliser, Admiral of the White, turning slightly to the right in captain's uniform (over three years seniority), 1767-1774. He stands cross-legged, leaning on the plinth of a column, holding his hat in his right hand. The background includes a ship at sea. From 1764 to 1766, when he was a Captain, Palliser was Governor of Newfoundland, where James Cook, who had served under him earlier, was employed charting the coast. He was subsequently Comptroller of the Navy and then second-in-command to Augustus Keppel at the Battle of Ushant in 1778. Good condition overall, Blade 27.5 inches long

Code: 22553