Maritiem Digitaal
collectie zoeksyteem van de maritieme musea
geen titel
| titel | geen titel
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| inventarisnummer | WPN1265
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| collectie | Edged Weapons
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| museum | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
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| datum | circa 1775
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| omschrijving | Sword with a slotted hilt. The hilt has a gilt knuckle bow- is narrow at the pommel and widening towards the top- pierced at the front to show a foul anchor and at the shoulder of the blade in two parallel cuts- the obverse of which contains a foul anchor and the reverse- a strengthening bar. The grip is of wood bound spirally with fine gilt wire with double strands of heavier silver wire- also bound spirally- at quarter-inch intervals to show the gilt beneath. The large- near oviform- fluted gilt pommel is surmounted by a prominent- fluted- gilt tang button. The guard extension- replacing the trailing quillon- is slightly up-turned and ends in a blunt point. There is some striation on both the knuckle bow and guard itself. Overall the hilt measures 6.25in with the inside edge measuring 4.1in.
The blade is flat-backed with an 8 in. long false edge and a broad fuller starting 0.25 in. from the guard and extending to within 0.5 in. of the point. It is engraved on the obverse with a cutler's mark; foliage with flowers (daffodils); the unofficial cypher GR surmounted by an inaccurate representation of St. Edward's crown; foliage; and scrolls. The rev is engraved with a cutler's mark; a trophy of drama- flags and spears the unofficial cypher GR surmounted by an inaccurate representation of St. Edward's crown; and two designs of scrolls. There is a black leather scabbard with two gilt lockets and gilt chape- the lockets fitted with suspension rings and the top locket incorporating a frog button. The obverse side bears decorative marks consisting of two parallel lines arranged in saltire and in horizontal groups. The reverse of the top locket bears the engraving- 'Callum Charing Cross'.
This sword is of a type popular in the Royal Navy towards the end of the 18th century. The long- uniformity tapered blade seems to show a compromise between the fighting sword used for cutting and that used for thrusting and the finish of the weapon- together with its relative lightness of weight suggests that it might possibly have doubled as both a fighting and a dress sword though it would not have replaced the small sword for dress ashore. Cullum was making swords at Charing Cross between 1752 and 1796/7 but the sword has been provisionally dated by reference to a portrait in the N.M.M. of Admiral Kempenfelt and to another of Captain Bentinck as both officers have similar swords represented in their paintings. It may be assumed that the sword was worn by any officer without regard to rank. See also WPN1268.
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| afmetingen | Blade: 699 x 25 mm
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