EL6795 - A good 18th century smallsword made in Solingen. Possibly a mourning sword, as the hilt seems to have been blackened originally, rather than just from age patina, and what remains of the grip binding is also black. The hilt fittings are iron, of simple and austere form, of strong form and solidly mounted on the tang. There is a little bit of movement only in the wooden grip, which has lost the covering (perhaps fabric rather than wire), and has a little bit of wood loss to the pommel end, but retains one of the Turks heads at the top. The 29 inch hollow-ground triangular blade carries the French text stating that this was made in Solingen (Germany), so this was presumably a German imported sword for the French market. There is a small nick in one edge, pictured. Also, the forte of the blade carries what appears to be a heraldic motif with a coronet above, so this was perhaps for a nobleman and this offers an avenue for research.
