FINE ENGLISH CUT STEEL SMALLSWORD C.1800

Napoleonic period, of the type which, in this quality, is also referred to as a court sword. Steel hilt with faded blue finish, with faceted urn form pommel, faceted iron grip, straight cross guard and oval shell guard. The pommel, shell guard and cross guard are all decorated with faceted steel studs, 100% intact. They are complemented by a chain guard of graduated elongated spheres faceted to match the grip. Triple falls with matching terminals below. 26 7/8” blade in original cloth seat, of flattened hexagonal sectional, rounded at the forte. The first 6” is decorated both sides with a base panel inscribed with the medieval Anglo Norman motto Honi Soit qui mal y Pense, (shame to anyone who thinks ill of it). That is the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter, the highest of all British knighthoods, identifying the owner as a British Knight of highest rank. Above the panel is a cut steel flower or sunburst with foliate motifs beyond. The decoration retains about 98% original fire gilt gold surface. An important sword in superior preservation dating precisely to the turbulent Napoleonic Wars and likely the sword of an officer who served England against France.