French Model 1767 Officer's Sword
Date1767-1780
OriginEurope, France
MediumIron/steel, brass, wood and silver
DimensionsOL: 39"; Blade: 32 1/4 x 5/8"; Blade width: 11/16"
Credit LineAcquisition funded by The Antique Collectors' Guild
Object number2007-102
DescriptionFrench M-1767 Officer's sword, of classic smallsword form composed of a cast brass hilt decorated with straight gadrooning on the ovoid pommel and fluting along the edges of the other elements. Its wooden grip is bound with two opposed strands of finely twisted silver wire with a stamped sheet silver "turk's head" at either end. The blade, possibly once etched, is of the common, hollow triangular section and is typically (for the period) very narrow.Label TextIn addition to being the main sword carried by French officers serving in the Revolution, Lafayette is known to have given examples to numerous American officers. To date three have been identified, one of which was Washington's, now at Mount Vernon.
Exhibition(s)
ca. 1775
ca.1690-1710
ca.1770-1780
1770-1771
ca. 1690
ca. 1700-1720
ca. 1760-1785
1725-1750
1600-1625
1780-1820
