November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
A fine silver-hilted smallsword of 40" length with colichemarde blade of 32" length with sharply tapering hollow triangular section etched on both sides of the forte with floral and scrolled motifs, 1-1/4" wide at ricasso. Silver hilt with a "boat-shell" crossguard, decorated with gadrooning on pommel, crossguard, and knuckle-bow, the grip bound with silver ribbon and two thicknesses of twisted, silver wire. The upper pas d’an bearing ‘WK” touchmark of William Kinman and London hallmarks for 1760/61. William Kinman was one of the finest silversmiths and sword cutlers working in London during the mid-late 18th century. For further details of this maker, see Leslie Southwick, London Silver-hilted Swords...(2001), pp. 105-106. CONDITION: The blade well-cleaned over the years, so that etching designs cannot be fully discerned; some loosening to the original wire/ribbon wrapping of the blade. JLK