Measuring 28 1/2 inches in overall length, this is a superb example of a top-rate European nobleman's hunting sidearm. Carried along with a firearm or a spear, on a good day the sword would come out to deliver the final blow to a mortally wounded animal at the end of the chase. On a bad day, the sword could be a huntsman's last line of defense against an enraged animal. A mandatory item regardless of the hunter's status, a sword with this level of furnishing suggests that it's owner was a wealthy and powerful individual. The straight single fuller blade measures 22 3/4 inches overall, with scroll engraving in a 3 1/8 inch panel on both ricassos and the spine, and an engraved game scene on each side, with a dog pursuing a boar on the right and a dog pursuing a reindeer on the left. The hilt is constructed from heavily engraved and sculpted gilt brass. A hunting scene is engraved on the clamshell languet, showing a wild boar being taken down by the combined efforts of a spearman on horseback, an archer, and a pair of hunting dogs. The knuckleguard and rear quillon both start and terminate with grotesque beast heads, with the center showing a leaping lion on the obverse and the charging bore on the reverse. Additionally, the center of the knuckleguard is decorated with a cut-through, three dimensional rendering of a wheelock-equipped hunter, detailed right down to the hunting sword on his left hip. A raised hunting dog is positioned on each side of the pommel cap, and the octagonal grip is set into brass collars, engraved on the reverse and cut-through in vine patters on the obverse, with a fine tortoiseshell veneer overall and a scene of two hunting dogs bringing down a boar on the mother of pearl panels on the obverse. The sheath is constructed of brown leather on a wood core, with the throat and tip constructed from textured gilt brass with engraved scroll accents. A second throat is built into the sheath, which carries a small utility knife, 7 5/8 inches overall with a 4 1/4 inch single edged blade, an octagonal bone grip finished in a tortoiseshell pattern, and a gilt pommel cap decorated with leafy scroll engraving. Finishing out the set is the sword belt; measuring 36 3/4 inches long and built on a base of a 2 inch wide sturdy red leather, it is faced in fine black velvet, and fitted with an integral "frog" pattern hanger with a 5 1/2 inch drop, adorned across the length and down the hanger with an interweaving pattern of golden bullion thorny vines, which terminates in a pair of gilt heart-shaped buckles. As much as the belt is adorned, it is also functional; the thickness is sufficient to comfortably carry the weight of the weapon, the black velvet virtually absorbs light, and the bullion has been deliberately darkened and the faces of the buckles finished in a matte textured pattern to keep reflection down to an absolute minimum. The overall effect suggests it was made for someone who had a taste for the finer things, with a particularly French inclination (a pattern shared by any European with the resources to do so), but tempered by the knowledge that this is a piece of field equipment first and foremost.

Very good. The blade shows a scattered pitting, concentrated at the tip, with some dark spots along the spine and a few chips along the edge. The game scenes ahead of the ricasso show fading, likely from use and maintenance during the period of service. The hilt is excellent, with strong gilt finish overall, showing some mild edge rubbing and scattered light handling marks. The grip is very good, with only the tiniest chips on the side panels and attractive color. The sheath is also very good, with mild wear on the leather and strong gold finish. The utility knife is good, with evidence of regular sharpening and polishing on the blade, smooth wear on the grip, and a finely aged patina on the pommel cap, which retains the original gold in the lower areas of the engraving. The belt is excellent, with a few scuffs on the bullion and mild handling marks overall. A highly attractive grouping, beautiful enough to wear on parade but built for the field.