Spanish small-sword. Said to have belonged to Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood (1750-1810). The hilt is gilded brass with a oviform pommel incorporating a prominant tang button, gilt knuckle bow, engaged to the pommel by a hook, cast in one piece with ricasso, pas d'ane rings and a straight quillon which ends within the line of the shell, a plain four-sided grip with bevelled corners secured by two small (6mm) striated ferrules, one above, the other below, and a plain oval bowl-shaped shell which is nearly flat in section. The whole hilt bears a minimum of decoration which consists largely of the milling of the edges of projections. The knuckle bow is widened slightly at its centre and the oval shape of the shell is emphasised by lines which follow its outline on the inside face.

The blade is straight, diamond section plain steel with a uniform taper to a fine point which has been slightly damaged. The shoulder is slightly narrowed where it enters the hilt. There is no marking of any form on either blade or hilt to indicate who made or assembled it. The scabbard is wood covered with black leather with two gilt lockets and, like the blade, of diamond section. The mid locket has its suspension ring secured to its trailing edge but the top locket has its ring attached to the after of the two obverse faces (i.e., is some 6mm forward of the trailing edge). The tip of the scabbard has been broken and may originally have had a chape.

The problem of identifying this sword is considerable. The absence of any indication as to its maker or assembler may mean that it is English and in the near "tradition" of anonimity practised by many cutlers in this country but this is mere speculation and the blade is unlikely to be English anyway. The apparent cheapness of the sword suggests it belonged to a man whose claim to gentility was meagre and the confusion of styles (eg., adequate pas d'ane rings, early 18th century; single quillon within the line of the shell, mid 18th century) means that any identification will be unsatisfactory. The devlopment of the various changes of style displayed by this sword can be followed through in J.D.Aylward's book, "The small-sword in England", revised edition, London, 1960, pages 104 and 105. The assumed ownership to Collingwood is the same as that provided for WPN1056, WPN1268 and WPN1269 and contains no real proof of his having owned it.