A Fine English Silver Hilted Small Sword by John Bennett Hallmarked for 1762 / 1763 mounted with a Boat Shell Hilt and Colichemarde Blade

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Price: £2,150

Ref: 42900335

Item Description

A fine silver hilted smallsword by John Bennett date-stamped for 1762 / 1763. The bold hilt is of boat shell type which was one of the most robust hilt designs adopted by the London silver hilted small sword makers working in the 18th century. The sword is mounted with a broad robust colichemarde blade. John Bennett was one of the most renowned 18^th century London silversmith / cutlers but surviving swords made by him are generally encountered less frequently than those of his competitors.

The dish guard, pommel and ricasso are shaped en suite with well executed gadrooned lines and borders. The baluster shaped wooden grip is diagonally bound with silver strip interspaced with a double length of roped silver wire. The broad colichemarde blade is of stiff triangular section and retains is clearly engraved panels of strapwork near the hilt.

The four hallmarks are stamped onto the knucklebow near the hilt. These  consist of the maker’s mark “I . B” with a pellet between in raised relief inside a depressed rectangular panel, the lion passant mark, the crowned leopard’s head assay mark and the date stamp.

The hilt is as much an example of the high standards of design and execution required of the 18th century London silversmith and cutler as it is of an effective weapon. Silver hilted small swords were fashionable attire for 18th century gentlemen. Mostly worn for effect, someone wearing such a sword was also announcing to the world that he could use it. Despite the stylish and delicate appearance of these swords they were formidable dueling weapons. .

There are some minor light blackened patches of old pitting near the middle of the blade but otherwise the sword is in fine condition overall. There are no losses or repairs to the hilt which has maintained its original pleasing outline. The blade is 30.5 inches (80 cm) long and overall the sword is 37.25 inches (94.5 cm) long.

John Bennett was one of the most influential and foremost makers of silver hilted swords working in London in the middle of the 18^th century and made swords for the London social and military elites. He and his son (John Bennett II) were also gunsmiths, jewellers and goldsmiths. They were based at Threadneedle Street in the City of London.

Both were prominent members of the Cutlers’ Company and served in all the major posts including Master. John Bennett (I) lived from 1708/9 to 1774. In 1723 he started his apprenticeship with John Carmen, another important London silver hilted sword maker.  He was sworn free of the Cutlers’ Company in 1731 and entered his first mark of “I B” inside a rectangle in the Smallworkers’ Book at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1732.

John Bennett’s second known mark was entered in 1761, same as the first, with a pellet between the letters, which is the mark on this sword. The mark of John Bennett (II) may have been similar. However, the date stamp of 1762/1763 on this sword predates his freedom to practice in his own right from when he was sworn free of the Cutlers’ Company in 1765. As a result the mark on this sword is most certainly by John Bennett (I).

For other silver hilted small swords by John Bennett see Leslie Southwick, “London Silver-hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, and for further information on his working life of see page 45.