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Nation : British
Local Price : £825.00

British 1892 Pattern Household Cavalry Trooper’s Sword, Unusual Variant. Description Slightly curved, single fullered blade with spear point, basket guard with pierced foliate &#acute;honeysuckle&#acute; decoration incorporating the cypher &#acute;HC&#acute;, buff leather hilt liner and washer, brass wire-bound shagreen grip, smooth steel backstrap and integral smooth oval pommel. Buff leather sword knot. Steel scabbard with two hanging rings and fixed side loop to the upper band. Blade 32 inches in length (81.3cm), the sword 37Â¾ inches (95.9cm) overall. The blade is unmarked. The outside of the hilt is stamped with two broad arrows point to point, a mark that was put on War Department equipment that was declared obsolete or to be sold off. The inside of the hilt is stamped near the quillon (under the hilt liner) with &#acute;1 . 08&#acute; above &#acute;4 / 01&#acute; above &#acute;T&#acute; above &#acute;209&#acute;. The first two are most likely issue dates of January 1908 and April 1901, indicating periods this sword was in service. The last number is most likely a serial or rack number. The &#acute;T&#acute; marking is interesting “ see below. Since their inception the regiments of Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards which collectively made up the Household Cavalry carried different swords than the regiments of the regular cavalry. This stemmed from their unique status as bodyguards to the Sovereign, which placed them beyond the effective control of the Army bureaucracy for most of their existence. Until 1882 they designed, ordered and carried swords on their own initiative, not necessarily producing better weapons but enhancing their prestige and elite status. The 1892 Pattern sword for the Household Cavalry was adopted after much discussion of the shortcomings of its predecessor the 1888 Pattern. An intense debate had been ongoing throughout the 1880s of the optimal form for a cavalry sword, which had already resulted in three new models of sword for the regular cavalry in just ten years. It was eventually decided to simply adopt the blade of the then-current 1890 Pattern cavalry trooper&#acute;s sword, paired with essentially the same distinctive Household Cavalry hilt, which had not been particularly criticised. Ironically after all the talk of blade handling and sturdiness, the 1892 Pattern saw no combat. After 1908 the regiments of the Household Cavalry would carry the new 1908 Pattern while in the field, while the 1892 Pattern was retained (in the slightly modified Mk II form introduced in 1902) for parade use only. This was done on the direct request of King Edward VII, who found the 1908 pattern &156;hideous&157;. The use of the 1892 Pattern as their parade sword continues to this day. This example appears to have been modified from a standard 1892 Pattern “ its blade has been reduced in length by 2Â½ inches from the standard and has also been significantly reduced in breadth by grinding back the edge and the false edge, leaving the fuller roughly central in a blade 2.8cm wide at the shoulder, which rapidly narrows to 2cm along most of the blade&#acute;s length (2.7 on an unmodified example), with a much slenderer point as a result. It has even been reduced in thickness “ the original is 8mm thick along most of its length while this example is 6mm. The removal of material has made the fullers shallower and appears to have removed any previous markings from the blade. Conversion to this extent would have required the sword to be dismantled, and this is shown in its repeened pommel with atypical flat tang button. The changes to the blade allow it to fit into its atypical bespoke scabbard, which is along the lines of the steel parade scabbards used for all infantry officer&#acute;s swords since 1866, but modified with a fixed loop on the top band alongside the two hanging rings, which matches the Household Cavalry&#acute;s hanging configuration. The complex blade conversion has been very well done, and reminds me of very similar conversions done in the early 1900s to make sergeant&#acute;s swords, which also slimmed down 1890 Pattern Cavalry blades in order to fit them into scabbards like those of infantry officers. The parallels are interesting and may suggest some kind of deliberate reuse of old stock across the Army. I can find no reference to an official sword in this configuration, however so why was this sword made? The most logical reason to convert the 1892 Pattern to resemble the infantry sword would be to make it more readily wearable on foot. I think there is a strong possibility therefore that this example is an attempt to create a variant for trumpeters and other bandsmen of the regiments. These men had significantly more dismounted duties than the others, making a shorter sword more practical. At least one example exists of the 1820 Pattern sword for the Life Guards, which is usually more than 37Â½ inches in the blade and sometimes as much as 38Â¾, having been shortened to 33 inches, which is thought to have been for these musicians (see p185, The British Cavalry Sword by Dellar). The 1882 Pattern was the first to officially acknowledge this need with two distinct versions of the sword manufactured, one with a 34Â¾ inch blade for trumpeters and bandsmen, and one with a 38 7/8 inch blade for all other troopers. Notably the short model also had a variant scabbard with two hanging rings, just as this sword does. Officially the scheme of long & short versions was then dropped again in the 1888 Pattern, with a 37Â½ inch model for all troopers. I doubt that the practical need for a shorter version went away in those few short years, however. Perhaps in practice the bandsmen either used the old short 1882s for their foot duties or, as time passed, produced their own up-to-date short versions by conversion. Might that be the significance of the &#acute;T&#acute; marking on this example “ that it is intended for the regimental Trumpeters? See attached reference of a painting by notable military artist Richard Simkin depicting a trumpeter of the Royal Horse Guards on foot with sword as of 1912. The blade is bright with a high polish overall and only tiny areas of frosting or patination. There is no damage to its edge, which has been sharpened. The hilt including backstrap and pommel is likewise bright and clean. The knot and washer have some small areas of staining, the liner is clean. The buff leather pieces are so good that they may be later replacements, but this is difficult to judge. The wire binding of the grip is all intact and there are no losses or visible handling wear to the shagreen. The scabbard has some light patination and polishing marks.

Nation : British
Local Price : £825.00

British 1844 ’Deakin’ or ’Dundas’ Variant Cutlass, Indian Service Marks. Description Curved unfullered spear-pointed blade, steel basket hilt, smooth cast iron grip with finger grooves, painted black. Thin flat teardrop-shaped pommel cap. No washer. Black leather scabbard with copper frog stud and brass chape piece, the chape piece painted black. Blade 29 inches in length (73.7cm), 1 3/8 inches wide at the shoulder (3.6cm), the cutlass 34 inches overall (86.4cm). The blade is stamped at the ricasso on one side with a broad arrow above &#acute;I&#acute;, which is an Indian government stores mark. The spine of the blade is stamped with &#acute;1844&#acute;, presumably the production date. The outside of the hilt is stamped with &#acute;4 1853 GA&#acute;. 1853 is probably the issue date, GA probably indicates a unit, although I am unsure what unit this may be. The hilt is stamped next to the knot slit with &#acute;40&#acute;, probably a rack number. The leather of the scabbard is stamped on the rear side next to the seam with &#acute;BO&#acute; and a broad arrow, the ownership stamp of the (British) Board of Ordnance, as well as &#acute;1844&#acute;, again presumably the production date. This cutlass is sometimes referred to as the &#acute;Deakin patent&#acute; model, although only a few carry a maker&#acute;s mark. The September 2018 issue of the Naval Historical Review (published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia) does illustrate an example marked to Deakin, but there is also an example in the Royal Armouries (Item IX.5449) marked to Hadley. I have not yet seen any material proving that this was a Deakin design. It is also sometimes called the &#acute;Dundas&#acute; cutlass, although this seems to derive solely from the finger grooves on its grip, which superficially resemble the grooves found on the circa 1845 Royal Artillery &#acute;Dundas&#acute; sidearm. Examples of the cutlass have been seen with brass and steel grips, and both straight and curved blades (steel and curved being more common), although the form of the hilt and grip is reasonably consistent. Lists of standard Royal Navy cutlasses do not include it, although a few sources note it as an &#acute;experimental&#acute; type. There do not appear to be any records of it being formally designed and commissioned by the Board of Ordnance, even as an experiment, but examples like this one exist which have clear Board of Ordnance markings and other British government ownership and issue stamps, strongly suggesting that it did see official usage with the Royal Navy in some capacity - perhaps a commercial type purchased off the market to supplement official production? Its blade is clearly made to the same specification as the official 1845 Pattern cutlass, with matching length, curvature etc. I have not seen any other example with a manufacture date “ this one being made in 1844 is interesting as the first large-scale orders of the 1845 Pattern was also in production during that year “ the work was parcelled out to many different manufacturers who evidently used the design for their own non-standard versions. The blade has some pitting overall, diminishing towards the point. Some pitting impacts the edge at the foible but there are no nicks. The tip has fractionally worn (<1mm). The outside of the guard seems to have been roughly cleaned/polished in the past, leaving polishing marks. Some deeper pitting remains, as well as patination in places. The inside of the guard has dark even patination, pitting in places, and some traces of black paint near the grip (runoff from painting?) The grip retains much of its original black paint with some rubbing at the backstrap exposing patinated iron. There is a crack running the full circumference of the grip, which I assume runs all the way through dividing the grip into two pieces. However, despite this the grip is completely solid and firm in the hand with no movement whatsoever. The leather of the scabbard has some rubbing and knocks but remains strong with no losses to its stitching (possibly a repair/reinforcement to the stitching at the throat end, although this does not look modern). Some patination to the copper stud. The brass chape piece has some light dents and some rubbing & flaking to its black paint revealing patinated brass, more extensive on the rear side. Assuming there was a leather washer, this has been lost.

Nation : American
Local Price : 1,150.00 USD

AMERICAN NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER’S SWORD C.1790-1810. This pattern identified in The American Sword (Peterson) as #5 was carried by sergeants immediately after the Revolution and during the War of 1812. The brass hilt has a variation of the “pillow pommel” popular at the time. The grip is reeded American walnut. The blade is 26 ¾” long, broad fullered and retains its original blade seat. The specifications of the General Orders of March 30 and September 22, 1800, set out the specifications for this sword, making it arguably, the first standard pattern US sword.

Nation : British
Local Price : £795

Click and use the code >20871 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Scarce 16th Century Indian ´Firangi´ Battle Sword Circa 1500´s Basket Hilt Form

Nation : British
Local Price : £795.00

English Silver Hilt Court Sword Hallmark 1786. English Silver Hilted Court Sword Hallmark 1786 London and maker Marked R F “ Robert Foster. Super hilt in the form of the period, hallmarked as is the shell guard with silver wire wrapped grip. The colichemarde blade with good engraving at the ricasso but deteriorates over its length ibn condition please see images. For reference, please see Silver Mounted Swords by Daniek D Harzler page 97. Complete with original leather again with hallmarked fittings, over all length 89cm the blade 72.5cm

Nation : British
Local Price : £795.00

British Foot Artillery Sword c 1820. British Foot Artillery Sword c 1820 straight blade unfullered flat back with spear point. The guard brass straight knucklebow with brass shield shaped langets, curled quillon and leather-bound leather grip. Only marking is on the hilt which is a stylised S over stamped with a T or F overall length 24.75 inch over all 29.5 inch for reference please see Swords of the British Army Revised Edition page 233

Nation : British
Local Price : £795.00

British Light Cavalry 1821 Troopers Sword. British 1821 Light Cavalry Troopers Sword steel three bar hilt engraved with domed pommel with tank button and plain back strap with two ears and leather covered grip. The slightly curved blade with single fuller and spear point. Complete with steel scabbard with two loose rings. Overall length 37 inch the blade 32 inches

Nation : British
Local Price : £795.00

**OLDEST BRITISH ARMY REGIMENT**C1870 British Honourable Artillery (HAC) Officer’s Sword By Warren London With Etched Blade & Scabbard. Sn 22645:5 -. Established in 1537 the HAC is the oldest Regiment in the British army. It was primarily a citizen militia and raised in times of national emergency including the Armada, English Civil war and Napoleonic wars. Until the Victorian era, Officers would have followed regular infantry sword patterns. As this was a volunteer army, they would have to pay for all service equipment including their own swords. This sword highlights the strong influence of French sword design in that era, particularly with regard to the knuckle bow and angled or canted pommel (see page 175 of World Swords by Withers).This is a very good example of the HAC Officer’s Sword. Our example has a 31 ½” long, rapier type steel blade (37” overall). The blade has light staining consistent with age. Both sides have foliate engraved panels, one side has stylised combined ‘HAC’ monogram, the reverse has what looks like ‘WRN’ combined stylised monogram possibly the name of the Officer who commissioned this sword. The ricasso is signed by the maker or retailer ‘Warren 23 Cursitor Street, London’. It has brass guard with canted pommel and pierced upturned clamshell featuring the embossed ignited grenade artillery emblem. The undamaged fish skin covered hilt has its original copper wire binding which is tight and intact. The sword is complete with its original steel scabbard. The scabbard with brass shoe, fixed belt bar and mounts with 2 original brass hanging rings has no dents or damage. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 22645:5