In very good condition, a guaranteed authentic 1700’s French Buccaneer Pirate Captain’s Sword and Scabbard
Sorry, this item has been sold (NB: we do not divulge sold prices). However, we have a search facility to help you find more similar items. Plus a feature that allows you to enter your email and keywords (for what you are looking for) to be notified by email when anything comes in. Or you can simply browse the various categories. See the left hand navigation column.
Dated June 1755 and presented to the Monck. Now, we could spin a yarn that some French privateer (buccaneer / pirate) with the initials “P S” was nicknamed “The Monck”, but it would be a lie! The Monck was a river crossing paddle steamer (hence the “P S” initials) in England that sank, we understand, around 1770 (NB: there was also a later Monck ferry that sank – unlucky name!). But this is an authentic French Buccaneer Captain’s sword, 100%. The inscription “presente” (“presented to”) is in French. The huge intricate heavy brass guard / hilt is clearly French. Why would the French or a Frenchman gift a very expensive Buccaneer’s sword to an English paddle steamer ferry? We have absolutely no idea; good luck with that research!
Now look, so the sword never swash buckled in the Caribbean; it has never been sharpened but been in an antique display case (no longer present, we could not transport it from where we bought this on a British island) for years and years, hence its amazing condition. But it is a 100% authentic 1755 French Buccaneer Captain’s sword (they could use long swords rather than shorter cutlasses designed for cramped deck hand to hand combat because the captain stood firm at the Quarter Deck of a sailing ship at the top of the stairs coming up, plus for ashore). And it is likely the best condition and only true, authentic mid 18C French Buccaneer Captain’s sword you will ever see, let alone have the chance of owning.
If we had removed the “Monck” plaque, saying it would have originally been a fleur-de-lis, if we had the blade sharpened and the cutting edge aged, knocked the scabbard around a bit and put a few sword cuts in the guard, as many dealers would, we could claim this was an actual French Buccaneer Captain’s sword and sold it for over five times what we are.
The almighty 36 inch blade is in very good condition, a steady speckling of tiny rust spots confirming its age, very slightly loose in the hilt and grip. The magnificent heavy brass guard / hilt is aged with a slight tarnish but very good. The chequered ebonized walnut grip is in very good condition. The original (OMG, original) leather and brass fittings scabbard is in very good condition (to say the very least) for its age. The sword sheathes and draws well.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own such a rare sword, especially in such good condition; you will never, ever get a chance to buy another. Don’t blink or it will be lost to you for ever. Just was £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference ZZ41. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 1689-110x15x14 (1.865)
