Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ron Anderson · 14th October 2010, 12:24 AM

Hi Norman

Thanks for that.

I can see your point about the style of the blade being 19th century. I am quite familiar with the regulation pattern British swords. It isn't a 1796 pattern blade. And I don't think it's a cavalry blade from the 1821 pattern.

It's possible it's an imported blade, from Solingen perhaps as Jim suggests. But then it certainly wasn't employed in the British army as a regulation cavalry pattern in the 19th century.

So while the blade and the fuller does remind me too of blades of the period you suggest (early to mid 19th century), I believe it must be pre-1798. That would make sense to me of the fact that it resembles the 1798 pattern Scottish broadsword hilt.

I'm leaning towards it being very late 18th century, certainly before 1798.

The wire hilt seems to suggest much earlier, surprisingly, as does the pommel.

I would be surprised if this sword was not military, given the length and quality of the blade. But it seems to pre-date the arrival of the regulation patterns.

That's the best I can do at the moment.

But Maybe it belonged to some sort of yeomanry unit with a Scottish background.

That could place it into the 19th century perhaps.

I say this with reservation because I think Yeomanry swords would surely have had a variation of an existing blade pattern anyway.

14th October 2010, 12:24 AM	#16
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Norman Thanks for that. I can see your point about the style of the blade being 19th century. I am quite familiar with the regulation pattern British swords. It isn't a 1796 pattern blade. And I don't think it's a cavalry blade from the 1821 pattern. It's possible it's an imported blade, from Solingen perhaps as Jim suggests. But then it certainly wasn't employed in the British army as a regulation cavalry pattern in the 19th century. So while the blade and the fuller does remind me too of blades of the period you suggest (early to mid 19th century), I believe it must be pre-1798. That would make sense to me of the fact that it resembles the 1798 pattern Scottish broadsword hilt. I'm leaning towards it being very late 18th century, certainly before 1798. The wire hilt seems to suggest much earlier, surprisingly, as does the pommel. I would be surprised if this sword was not military, given the length and quality of the blade. But it seems to pre-date the arrival of the regulation patterns. That's the best I can do at the moment. But Maybe it belonged to some sort of yeomanry unit with a Scottish background. That could place it into the 19th century perhaps. I say this with reservation because I think Yeomanry swords would surely have had a variation of an existing blade pattern anyway.