Hello, I have information on a couple other Garden & Son swords. The first is one I won at auction but have yet to receive. Unusual in that it is a Pillin proof disc with a rarely seen etching around it, also that it is a folding guard (now broken) patent solid hilt. A bit like having a court sword hilt with a broadsword blade. Link here to the auction as I am on my phone and do not want to reformat the webp as jpgs:
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...8-b38b00dfbe8f
The latter with attached images is one I know the current owners of, these are the auction photos. (It was listed on their store site before deciding to keep it) It is a lozenge/lenticular sabre blade, so no fullers, almost a flat solid but think more of a boat tailed spitzer bullet. It is also a patent solid hilt.
From what I can informally tell, Garden seemed to have a niche carved out not for the well heeled fanciest officers but more along the lines of the explorers and adventurers (or at least those who styled themselves as such). With the large howdah pistols and high end but generally more serious swords, it is no Hamburger Rogers & Co or Hawkes but for those expecting violence and adventure on the frontier. Reminds me of the old Abercrombie & Fitch around the turn of the 20th century which was a much different time.
I am not on below forum and please let me know if I need to remove this but there is also a small discussion as seen here:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/brit...rd-t29109.html
And below are links to various other things that have their retailer name attached to them:
-https://bid.candtauctions.co.uk/lot-details/index/catalog/208/lot/67211/Victorian-officer-s-mameluke-sword-by-GARDEN-SON-200-PICCADILLY-LONDON
-https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-7842
-https://www.michaeldlong.com/product/british-percussion-pistol-c-1864-by-r-garden-scinde-horse/
Please let me know if any of this is improper, I just figured I could add some further links of officers weapons and firearms. I agree with Jim McDougall here, they carried a very specific store style and appears to be popular for people in the know to seek them out specifically because of that reputation. The last link there is a .65 caliber or about 16.5mm. Needless to say they weren't in the business of making or selling weapons that would only graze the enemy!