Data organisation & terminology
Distance is measured in centimeters, mass in kilograms.
All distances > 15cm are measured with a precision of ±1 mm.
All distances ≤ 15 cm are measured with a precision of ±0,1 mm.
All masses ≤ 7 kg are measured within a precision of ±10 g.
Measurements in empire (inches, pounds) are for information only and are based on the corresponding metric measurements.
Each sword is presented through several photos and three description tables.
• The first table (Overview) corresponds to general characteristics, including the ones most likely to be used as sorting criteria.
• The second table (Measurements) corresponds to measurements of the sword, blade and scabbard.
• The third table (Features) corresponds to more item-specific hilt, blade and scabbard characteristics, including materials used, marks and inscriptions.
The following tabs present an example of such tables while some specific terms are explained hereunder
| Period1 | French Second Empire | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Min/Max date1 | 1851-12-02 - 1870-09-04 | Location(cntry)1 | Belgium |
| Origin1 | France | Location(detail)1 | ex author's collection |
| Sword type1 | Smallsword | Displayed at1 | -- |
| Corps1 | Civilian | Reference1 | -- |
| Outfit2 | Ambassador / Grand Chambellan | ||
| Owner1 | |||
| Guard type1 | 1 bar | Provenance1 | Cannes encheres |
| Quillions1 | 1 | Provenance(detail)1 | Jul 19 2014, lot 98 |
| Hilt type1 | Pierced shell | Original owner1 | Eugene Marie Cor |
| Grip form1 | Octogonal flat | ||
| Pommmel type1 | Coat of arms and crown | Condition1 | Very Good |
| Blade type1 | Straight | ||
| Edge1 | Triple edged | ||
| Fuller1 | 3 | Information date | 2015-01-11 |
| Information source | 1 Author 2 J.Lhoste EPeF |
| Sword | Blade | Scabbard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max length(cm/In)1 | 92.1 | 36.26 | 76.5 | 30.12 | 77.5 | 30.51 |
| Max width(cm/In)1 | 10.60 | 4.17 | 1.40 | 0.55 | 2.18 | 0.86 |
| Max thickness(cm/In)1 | 3.90 | 1.54 | 0.80 | 0.31 | 1.88 | 0.74 |
| Curvature(cm/In)1 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.00 |
| Width at 10 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | 0.54 | 0.21 | 1.08 | 0.43 |
| Thickness at 10 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | 0.35 | 0.14 | 0.81 | 0.32 |
| Width at 50 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | 0.91 | 0.36 | 1.32 | 0.52 |
| Thickness at 50 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | 0.54 | 0.21 | 0.91 | 0.36 |
| Section at 10 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | Hollow triangle | Rounded triangle | ||
| Section at 50 cm(cm/In)1 | -- | -- | Hollow triangle | Rounded triangle | ||
| Weight(kg/lb+oz)1 | 0.36 | 0lb 13oz | -- | -- | 0.07 | 0lb 2oz |
| Information source | 1 Author | |||||
| Hilt | Blade | Scabbard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials1 | Mother of pearl | Steel | Black leather |
| Bronze | -- | Bronze | |
| Gilding | -- | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| Features1 | Imperial coat of arms | Acid etching | Flowers |
| Crown | Floral design | Arabesque | |
| Floral design | Spear | -- | |
| Fruits | 8 mm ricasso | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| Marks1 | -- | Antlered animal/bee hive | -- |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| Hilt inscription1 | -- | ||
| Blade inscription1 | -- | ||
| Scabbard inscription1 | Eugene-Marie COR, plenipotentiaire | ||
| Information source | 1 Author | ||
Terms
The sword being placed on, and parallel to, a flat surface, with quillions to the left & right, the width corresponds to a distance parallel to the flat surface and perpendicular to the hilt, the thickness to a distance perpendicular to the flat surface.
The sword’s length is measured from the center top of the pommel to the tip of the blade.
The sword’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the axis of the sword. It corresponds to the minimum
width of a box the sword would fit in.
The sword’s maximum thickness is measured perpendicularly to the plane of the sword. It corresponds to the minimum depth of a box the sword would fit in.
The sword’s length is measured along the axis of the sword, from the center top of the pommel to the tip of the blade.
The sword’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the axis of the sword. It corresponds to the minimum
width of a box the sword would fit in.
The sword’s maximum thickness is measured perpendicularly to the plane of the sword. It corresponds to the minimum depth of a box the sword would fit in.
Sword curvature
The sword’s curvature is the maximum distance between the back of the blade and the line joining the top of the pommel
to the tip of the blade, measured perpendicularly to said line.
Blade curvature
The blade's curvature is the maximum distance between the back of the blade and the line joining the back of the foot of the blade to the tip
of the blade, measured perpendicularly to said line.
Scabbard curvature
The scabbard's curvature is the maximum distance between the back of the acabbard and the line joining the back of the mouthpiece and the middle of the tip of
the scabbard, measured perpendicularly to said line.
The blade’s length is measured from the center of the foot of the blade to the tip of the blade.
The blade’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the axis of the sword at the largest point of the blade.
The blade’s or scabbard’s maximum thickness is measured perpendicularly from the plane of the sword at the largest point of the blade/scabbard.
Width at 10/50 cm
The blade’s or scabbard’s width at 10/50 cm from the tip of the blade or scabbard.
Thickness at 10/50 cm
The blade’s or scabbard’s thickness at 10/50 cm from the tip of the blade or scabbard.
Section at 10/50 cm
The form of the blade’s or scabbard’s cross-section at 10/50 cm from the tip of the blade or scabbard.
The blade’s length is measured from the center of the foot of the blade to the tip of the blade. In this example, this is parallel to the sword’s axis.
The blade’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the curve of the sword at the largest point of the blade.
The blade’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the curve of the sword at the largest point of the blade.
The blade’s maximum length is measured from the center of the foot of the blade to the tip of the blade. In this example, this is parallel to the sword’s axis, but this is not always the case.
Straight scabbards
The scabbard’s maximum length is measured from the center of the scabbard mouthpiece to the center of the tip of
the scabbard.
The scabbard’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the axis of the scabbard at the largest point of the scabbard
Curved scabbards
The scabbard’s maximum length is measured from the center of the scabbard mouthpiece to the center of the tip of
the scabbard.
The scabbard’s maximum width is measured perpendicularly to the curve of the scabbard at the largest point of the scabbard
