British service in India sword ?
 

Believe this is a British general officer sword, pattern 1822 for serice in India. Can anyone elaborate on it?


thanks,

rand

Especially nice example Rand! This is indeed the pattern 1822 (known as the 'gothic hilt' ) with the cartouche enclosing Queen Victoria's royal cypher with the added 'I' for India. She was proclaimed Empress of India May 1,1876 so this hilt post dates that event, and was used until 1890's (the pattern 1895 supplanted this form hilt).
If we could get a close up of the six point star surrounding the brass proof disc we might get an idea of the outfitter, or if there are markings in the etched motif.
Weapons from the British Raj are extremely desirable, representing this colorful military heritage in India, and these officers swords with the VRI cartouche have always seemed rather rare in coming up for sale.

All the best,
Jim

I may be wrong but I believe the Star of David surrounding the proof was used by Wilkinson.
Stu

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your information. Hee is a photo of the mark, It says "Proved T."

Was interesting about the added "I" for India.....


rand

Have been advised that this sword may be a copy and to check the discriminating general site which I have, the decoraion on the spine of the hilt is different. Not sure if hey make more than one copy or not. This sword has been hanging on the wall at my brothers house for over thirty years...

Would like your thoughts on if this may be a copy or not.

I do appreciate all opinions.....

rand

Picture of copy made by "Discriminating General.....

Hi Rand :) ,
here are pictures of another 1822 pattern with a similar 'back strap'.... but with a George IV catouche on the 'guard'

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...%3Den%26sa%3DN

Is there a possibility that this is a P1845 Officer's Sword. Very nearly identical to the P1822. I understand that the difference being that the P1845 has a fullered "Wilkinson" blade instead of a pipe back blade ??

Regards David

Hi,
I think that Rand's sword is an 1845 pattern with the 1854 variant hilt. The 1822 has a pipe back blade and a partially folding basket, the 1845 a single fullered spearpoint blade and the 1854 variant a fixed basket. There will always be exceptions but as far as I can remember this was the specifications as per the British Army.
Regards,
Norman.

Besides what pattern the sword is am now trying to find out if it is a copy or not. The threads I have read on this subject no longer have the photo's attached to reference. If you know a related thread reguarding to this proof mark or sword please post the link here..

thanks,
rand

Rand,
Robert Wilkinson-Latham mentions the 'proved T' mark in this thread....

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=87782

Regards

After reading other posts on British swords it seems likely this sword is a copy made over thirty years ago. Was surprised that they had made copies of this sword that long ago..... Was purchased just after the movie "Zulu Dawn" came out, if you have not seen it rent it. Thank you all for your input...

rand