a puzzle

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by corrado26

In my photo archive I found pictures of a percussion carbine with a lock signature "2. Scinde Irregular horse", a unit of the EIC in India. I am by no means a specialist of British troop markings and have absolutely nothing of helpful literature - but could i t be that II/SI stands for "2. Scinde Irregular" (or "Infantry")?

BRILLIANT Udo!
I would never have thought of that, yet over 40 years ago virtually all I studied and collected was British cavalry in the British Raj in India.

Perhaps the similarity to the EIC bayonet mentioned by '10thHussar' earlier has deeper connection. These Northwest regions were of course administratively controlled by the British government and of course the EIC.

The province of Sind was vast, rugged and on the trade route from Bolan Pass to Sukkur, the caravans were plagued by raiding Baluchi warriors/ In 1839, the SCINDE IRREGULAR HORSE was formed to guard these caravans and protect the route.

In 1846...the SECOND regiment of Scinde Irregular Horse was formed!
The term irregular was of course to note these units were native forces operating as auxiliary to the regular British army, and the term irregular itself was proudly held as a kind of elite.

It is a compelling notion to think this bayonet, seemingly corresponding to the EIC bayonet type (with spring catch) loosely might be of this connection.....II=2nd SI=Scinde Irregular.

While bayonets are of course typically regarded as infantry weapons for muskets, these cavalry were often carrying carbines, and these did sometimes have bayonets. There was often a great deal of innovation in bayonets which were associated with these, and it seems that one such irregular unit was known to have had a type of sword bayonet (it may have been Jacobs Horse, I need to find the references).

The illustration is a painting of Rissaldar Mohubut Khan, Bahadur, an officer of 2nd Scinde Irregular Horse.