Way Of The Warrior Museum Late 17th Century English Short Sword With Scabbard

This is a replica of a late 17th-century Replica English Ceremonial short sword, it is of musuem quality made by John Barnett. The high quality blade is hand forged using EN45 Spring steel to make the blade non brittle and give it a spring like quality that will not warp. It is most likely that the small sword originated in the courts of Louis XIV of France where it was worn instead of the rapier. It was also realised that in a duel between swordsmen of equal skill the man with the lighter weapon would have an advantage over his opponent. After the restoration of Charles II the small sword appears in England and as swords were worn by gentlemen as part of their everyday costume, small swords were more convenient to wear as oppose to rapiers. The small sword developed over the following century employing a variety of different blade styles, hilts and method of decoration, but in essence, a typical small sword had a small pommel, slim grip over a shell guard. A knuckle bow protected the fingers and often there were a pair of finger-rings just above the shell guard for extra grip. The blade was narrow, double-edged or triangular in section and hollow ground blades were considered the best, not only for their strength but for the lightness they imparted.