posted 10-01-2004 12:24 PM            

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Aren't all silver mounted swords presentation or ceremonial? But then I would expect some engraving explaining the event of it's presentation.

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Of 81 silver hilted swords listed in Peterson's American Silver Mounted Swords 1700-1815 only one bears a presentation inscription. The only engraving on others, if any, consists of owner's names and date of aquisition, the silversmith's name and/or various patriotic words or slogans. Since most swords were purchased by their owners, most of the silver mounted swords may have been worn by more well-to-do officers as status symbols. Of the 81 listed examples, 17 are categorized as small swords, and the remainder are either hunting swords or officer's sabers. Those of known provenance belonged to officers of all ranks, from Lieutenant to General. None of these bears a langet.

posted 10-01-2004 01:27 PM            

Here is a better image of the mark and a super-imposed image of Francis Richardson's mark, they look really similar to me but what do you all think?

I know this may be a left field theory, but if it is Francis Richardson, I know he had a frequent client by the name of William Penn who was famous for often carrying a sword, he was also of the right station and means to commission such a sword.

What do you think?

posted 10-01-2004 10:39 PM            

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it looks continental but the mark might be from Francis Richardson Jr. a Philidelphia silver smith during the early 1700's

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I know this may be a left field theory, but if it is Francis Richardson, I know he had a frequent client by the name of William Penn who was famous for often carrying a sword, he was also of the right station and means to commision such a sword, what do you think?

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Well, I have looked up a few things, and I think it is not out in left field, but entirely out of the park. Francis Richardson, Jr. was born in 1705, four years after Penn had returned to England where he remained until his death in 1718, so your scenario could not possibly have occurred. In addition, Penn was a strict Quaker, and he is unlikely to have carried a sword. He was portrayed in military regalia when he served in the King's Army in England prior to his conversion to Quakerism, so that painting may be the source of your association of him with a sword, but it should not have been carried over to this continent (his father, Admiral William Penn, could also have been so portrayed, and could be confused with his son). No American swords are known before 1700, so Francis, Sr., who was also a silversmith (and an early Quaker immigrant), could not (and, as a Quaker, probably would not) have made it for Penn, either (although he could have provided domestic silver to Penn at an earlier date, so you could have confused father and son). So. it appears you are going to have to look elsewhere.

posted 10-04-2004 09:17 AM            

The primary use of these short swords seems to have been in hunting, to dispatch wounded quarry and perhaps butcher it as well (as with the sawtoothed examples). Hunting was a gentleman's pastime, and therefore this could well have been a "working blade." (Remember that this was the era when even bridle fittings, etc were sometimes made of silver.)

Cuttoes also are sometimes depicted in paintings as part of military officers' accoutrements, circa 1740s-60s. In 18th-century Europe, there was often little distinction between military and nonmilitary equipment and uniforms. Officers, in particular, usually carried whatever sword they thought most dashing and fashionable (with usefulness a secondary consideration). For a short time, the cuttoe was very much in vogue.

From its style and mark, your cuttoe is almost certainly a German mid-18th-century example. Unless there are other hallmarks, it will be hard to pin down, since "FR" are very common initials, and many German silversmiths made such hilts. (They often bear only the maker's mark and no other hallmarks, or are unmarked.) Because of its sawtooth blade, it seems very unlikely that it had a military use (gentlemen officers of the 18th century were not in the habit of dismembering their vanquished foes).

As to the cuttoe's past ownership, in the absence of any inscription or provenance you are free to imagine anything you like. (Certainly some of these swords were brought to America in the 18th century, so it may possibly have a colonial association.) William Penn, however, died in 1718, and so -- religious considerations aside -- he could not have worn your sword, which was made at least a quarter-century later.