English Silver Hilt Smallsword with Original Scabbard, ca. 1775

Description

Exquisite cast and chased silver hilt, the shell guard pierced and depicting stands of arms
amid geometric shapes and scrolling foliage. Small pas d’ane, forward and reverse scroll
quillons, quillon block, knuckle bow, and spherical pommel with button decorated ensuite.
Grip wrapped with alternating twisted and single-strand silver wire. Bright, hollow ground,
triangular-section 34″ colichemarde blade etched with geometric design on the broad
section. Original vellum-covered scabbard with matching silver throat with frog hook and
chape; reverse of throat inscribed in script “Bock/Cock Spur Street/Charg. Cross”. Mark
Bock (1729-82) was a London gilder, goldsmith, and silver hilt maker and sword cutler
working at that address from 1774 until his death. Very fine quality and condition. Similar
example illustrated and described in “Silver Mounted Swords”, by Daniel Hartzler, Fig.
114, with scabbard throat signed in similar script. Overall length 40 1/2″, not including
scabbard. Swords of this type were carried by officers and gentlemen on both sides during
the American Revolution, including George Washington.