English Silver Hilt Smallsword with Original Scabbard, ca. 1775

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.