The Benjamin Franklin Silver-Hilted Small Sword

[Jack Loomes]

PROBABLY SPANISH, CIRCA 1760

with tapering Colichemarde blade of hollow triangular section, etched at the forte with scrollwork, and engraved inscription (a 19th century addition) in French Epée que portait Benjamin Franklin dans les combats livrés en Amérique pour la cause de la Liberté. / Il la donna depuis à son ami P.J.G. Cabania (sic) [Sword worn by Benjamin Franklin in the battles fought in America in the cause of Liberty. / He then gave it to his friend P.J.G. Cabanis], silver hilt comprising symmetrical shell-guard, quillion-block, knuckle-guard and pommel (rear-quillion missing) pierced with scrollwork and stylised trophies, and grip bound with silver wire and ribbon; with brown leather scabbard with silver locket decorated en suite with the hilt and struck on the reverse with a silversmith’s mark, and later silver chape with iron finial; and later close-fitted velvet-lined leather-covered case with brass mounts

The sword: 33 ½ in. (85 cm.) blade; 40 3/8 in. (102.5 cm.) overall

The case: 42 5/8 in. (108.3 cm.) long

The locket (upper scabbard mount) bearing a silversmith’s mark of SS in a rectangle, determined to be that of Samuel Soumaine (1718-circa 1769) of Annapolis, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Provenance

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Boston, Philadelphia, London and Passy, France
Pierre Jean Georges Cabanis (1757-1808), Auteuil and Paris, by gift from above in 1785
Geneviève Aminthe Cabanis (1793-1876), daughter and wife of Jean-Pierre Hecquet d’Orval (1783-1859), Abbeville, Somme, France
Emile Hecquet d’Orval (1816-1887), Château du Bois de Bonance, Port-le-Grand, Somme, France, son
Fernand Hecquet d'Orval (1851-1911), Château du Bois de Bonance, circa 1893, son
Honoré Hecquet d'Orval (1892-1950), Château du Bois de Bonance, circa 1929, son
Comtesse Nadine Hecquet d'Orval (1931-2005), daughter
Thence by descent in the family

Source: Christie's