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Jim McDougall · 8th February 2021, 11:52 PM

It seems these large capital letters may have to do with the intrigue laden circumstances of the American eagle pommel swords period, which was roughly 1793-1815. After going through the outstanding book by the late Andrew Mowbray, "The American Eagle Pommel Sword", 1988, there are interesting notes which suggest these capital letters are more to do with this enterprise than with normal British purveyance.

There are contradictions (?) such as the note on p.97 which claims that the G deeply stamped on the obverse ricasso (which seems the favored placement location) is the 'house mark of Gill.'.

On p.104 it is noted that as on two examples c. 1805, there is a deeply stamped 'O' with others, but one with Ob (Osborn? as with the other 'O's as suggested. Here the firm of William Ketland & Co. (1780-1831) is noted,as purveyors to American firms (such as the Upson partnerships in New York. Blades were being supplied to various cutlers who were assembling these eagle head swords.
As they were purchasing blades from various Birmingham makers, which were appparently brokered by Ketland, a number of them were decorated in Birmingham even with American patriotic motif.

Another example with large capital letter stamped at ricasso c. 1805 is with the letter 'I' (Solomon Jackson Birmingham 1803-15, the ''I' for Jackson).

Here is where it gets confusing:
As earlier noted, on p.105 , a blade c. 1805 has the letter ''O', and another, the O said to be a mark associated with Osborn.
Again (p. 97) says G is the 'house mark of Gill'.

Osborn became partners with Gunby in 1808, here it is noted that the 'GG' in capitals may have been by Gunby to prevent blades from being attributed to Gill? It seems Gill did not mark his blades G (I cannot recall the reference) ,

But why would Gunby use a GG, when he was partnered with Osborn, who used an O? why not OG?

The letter 'S' on the Dawes blades mounted by Prosser (a cutler not maker) are interesting with this strange convention of large letters stamped on obverse ricasso apparently with officers blades for export to America.
Dawes, while well known in swords for other ranks is not listed among those involved in this trade (in Mowbray).
Truly a conundrum as this blade stamping 'system' suggesting 'house marks' is not apparently something documented in references on British swords.

8th February 2021, 11:52 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,747	It seems these large capital letters may have to do with the intrigue laden circumstances of the American eagle pommel swords period, which was roughly 1793-1815. After going through the outstanding book by the late Andrew Mowbray, "The American Eagle Pommel Sword", 1988, there are interesting notes which suggest these capital letters are more to do with this enterprise than with normal British purveyance. There are contradictions (?) such as the note on p.97 which claims that the G deeply stamped on the obverse ricasso (which seems the favored placement location) is the 'house mark of Gill.'. On p.104 it is noted that as on two examples c. 1805, there is a deeply stamped 'O' with others, but one with Ob (Osborn? as with the other 'O's as suggested. Here the firm of William Ketland & Co. (1780-1831) is noted,as purveyors to American firms (such as the Upson partnerships in New York. Blades were being supplied to various cutlers who were assembling these eagle head swords. As they were purchasing blades from various Birmingham makers, which were appparently brokered by Ketland, a number of them were decorated in Birmingham even with American patriotic motif. Another example with large capital letter stamped at ricasso c. 1805 is with the letter 'I' (Solomon Jackson Birmingham 1803-15, the ''I' for Jackson). Here is where it gets confusing: As earlier noted, on p.105 , a blade c. 1805 has the letter ''O', and another, the O said to be a mark associated with Osborn. Again (p. 97) says G is the 'house mark of Gill'. Osborn became partners with Gunby in 1808, here it is noted that the 'GG' in capitals may have been by Gunby to prevent blades from being attributed to Gill? It seems Gill did not mark his blades G (I cannot recall the reference) , But why would Gunby use a GG, when he was partnered with Osborn, who used an O? why not OG? The letter 'S' on the Dawes blades mounted by Prosser (a cutler not maker) are interesting with this strange convention of large letters stamped on obverse ricasso apparently with officers blades for export to America. Dawes, while well known in swords for other ranks is not listed among those involved in this trade (in Mowbray). Truly a conundrum as this blade stamping 'system' suggesting 'house marks' is not apparently something documented in references on British swords.