Basket hilted swords

Jim McDougall · 22nd September 2015, 07:44 PM

It seems I have seen these kind of letter/number inscriptions on others of these British basket hilts. Naturally my inclination would be that it would likely be a rack number as these were to other ranks. While it is a thought to possibly be production number or maker/vendor number as these components were outsourced usually, I doubt something in lots like pommels would be so marked.

This military pattern is of course most interesting, and the producers named are the most typically seen. I have seen these hilts with what appeared to be a M1788 light cavalry sabre blade, and wonder how these might have been issued in the latter 18th century with curved blade.
Flank company perhaps?
Eljay, any thoughts?

ulfberth · 1st October 2015, 03:57 PM

Hello all,

a friend of mine send me this picture of a basket hilt, around 1m total Length and the blade around 3,5 CM wide.
That's al info I got, found in France, the hilt does not look familiar to me, any thoughts anyone ?

Thanks beforehand

Ulfberth

Jim McDougall · 1st October 2015, 11:44 PM

This is a most interesting example Ulfberth!
In addressing the hilt alone as the single image is all there is to go on, it has a most 'garrison' look to it, that is much like something for other ranks in the Scottish units of the British army. All appearances are to around third quarter of 18th as these 'tall cone' pommels seem to be closest to (G7, Mazansky). In Mazansky (p.147) there is an example with this type pommel c.1770, and it has the same rudimentary feel to the seemingly 'mechanical' looking piercing and decorative motif in the guards.

The placement of a grommet like open disc in the guard on this example seems to recall these kinds of open discs in the example referenced.
What is most curious is the odd 'shield' like piercing in one guard (loosely recalling Mazansky, family B , iii).

While this is stated provenance from France, there does not seem to be any reason to assume this was used by French forces, nor expatriate Scots of any diaspora post Culloden. As noted this hilt seems far later in the century than the 1746 Culloden event, and a hilt probably intended for British army regiment use would not have likely been in France.......not unless this was something from the Napoleonic campaigns.

I cannot find an exact match, but the style of the work recalling the piercing of Scottish hilts, but in a more austere manner, seems to fall into the kind of regimental manner of the Jeffries/Drury type hilts of that 18th century period.

With any luck, we might have the opinion of Eljay, whose experience with these kinds of swords is well established.

ulfberth · 3rd October 2015, 12:04 PM

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your comment, the 'garrison' look makes sense since the cross guard plate has the style of the Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Sword. I've looked but I can't seem to find a similar hilt anywhere.

kind regards

Ulfberth

Jim McDougall · 3rd October 2015, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulfberth

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your comment, the 'garrison' look makes sense since the cross guard plate has the style of the Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Sword. I've looked but I can't seem to find a similar hilt anywhere.

kind regards

Ulfberth

My pleasure, thank you for sharing this!
As I cannot see the hilt entirely, do you mean the bottom of the hilt (stool) which does seem to have piercings similar to those on the M1796 heavy cavalry sword?
The spirally gadrooned grip on this seems atypical as well, and more of the 'smallsword' or court sword type of the period.
It is hard to say whether this is an authentically working life armourers work or more modern assembly without having it in hand, but if it is indeed aged in accord in all components it could be of Napoleonic period.

All best regards,
Jim

ulfberth · 3rd October 2015, 07:43 PM

Hi Jim,

this is the part I mean , I hope to hold the sword in my hands so post more pics.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

Jim McDougall · 5th October 2015, 02:30 AM

Wow, that is of course most definitely the disc hilt, and an interesting mélange of components, but solidly done. I have seen these kinds of assemblies from various sword types in frontier instances in colonial places such as Mexico, but not with basket hilts like this. In the colonial cases these were in largely rural areas where quantities of swords or blades etc were not readily available, but in the Scottish and English areas as well as on the Continent this was certainly not the case.

1st October 2015, 03:57 PM	#2
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 439	Hello all, a friend of mine send me this picture of a basket hilt, around 1m total Length and the blade around 3,5 CM wide. That's al info I got, found in France, the hilt does not look familiar to me, any thoughts anyone ? Thanks beforehand Ulfberth Attached Images

3rd October 2015, 07:43 PM	#6
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 439	Hi Jim, this is the part I mean , I hope to hold the sword in my hands so post more pics. Kind regards Ulfberth Attached Images

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22nd September 2015, 07:44 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,668	It seems I have seen these kind of letter/number inscriptions on others of these British basket hilts. Naturally my inclination would be that it would likely be a rack number as these were to other ranks. While it is a thought to possibly be production number or maker/vendor number as these components were outsourced usually, I doubt something in lots like pommels would be so marked. This military pattern is of course most interesting, and the producers named are the most typically seen. I have seen these hilts with what appeared to be a M1788 light cavalry sabre blade, and wonder how these might have been issued in the latter 18th century with curved blade. Flank company perhaps? Eljay, any thoughts?

1st October 2015, 11:44 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,668	This is a most interesting example Ulfberth! In addressing the hilt alone as the single image is all there is to go on, it has a most 'garrison' look to it, that is much like something for other ranks in the Scottish units of the British army. All appearances are to around third quarter of 18th as these 'tall cone' pommels seem to be closest to (G7, Mazansky). In Mazansky (p.147) there is an example with this type pommel c.1770, and it has the same rudimentary feel to the seemingly 'mechanical' looking piercing and decorative motif in the guards. The placement of a grommet like open disc in the guard on this example seems to recall these kinds of open discs in the example referenced. What is most curious is the odd 'shield' like piercing in one guard (loosely recalling Mazansky, family B , iii). While this is stated provenance from France, there does not seem to be any reason to assume this was used by French forces, nor expatriate Scots of any diaspora post Culloden. As noted this hilt seems far later in the century than the 1746 Culloden event, and a hilt probably intended for British army regiment use would not have likely been in France.......not unless this was something from the Napoleonic campaigns. I cannot find an exact match, but the style of the work recalling the piercing of Scottish hilts, but in a more austere manner, seems to fall into the kind of regimental manner of the Jeffries/Drury type hilts of that 18th century period. With any luck, we might have the opinion of Eljay, whose experience with these kinds of swords is well established.

3rd October 2015, 12:04 PM	#4
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 439	Hi Jim, Thanks for your comment, the 'garrison' look makes sense since the cross guard plate has the style of the Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Sword. I've looked but I can't seem to find a similar hilt anywhere. kind regards Ulfberth

5th October 2015, 02:30 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,668	Wow, that is of course most definitely the disc hilt, and an interesting mélange of components, but solidly done. I have seen these kinds of assemblies from various sword types in frontier instances in colonial places such as Mexico, but not with basket hilts like this. In the colonial cases these were in largely rural areas where quantities of swords or blades etc were not readily available, but in the Scottish and English areas as well as on the Continent this was certainly not the case.