Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old Today, 03:09 AM   #11
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,368
Default Update: Revisit Campbell (1894)

In reviewing "Scottish Swords from the Battlefield at Culloden", Lord Archibald Campbell, 1894.....reprinted Andrew Mowbray, 1971.

I noted that it is suggested that two of these munitions grade hilts may have been among those of the 190 swords retrieved on the Culloden field. (p.22)

On p.10, (Mowbray)"...around 1740, Drury, Jeffries, Harvey and perhaps others accepted contracts from the English government to produce swords of the Highland pattern".
These are described as cheap, but serviceable blade stamped with GR and crown, in rough approximation of Glasgow styling. ...."it is almost certain that Campbell was referring to two of these blades being among his Culloden group".

Campbell acquired about 137 blades which had been fashioned into a travesty of a fence on an English estate, comprised of the blades of the Jacobite swords recovered from Culloden. This 'Twickenham' disgrace had dismounted the blades, which were of the varied forms of Solingen blades including ANDREA FERARAS.

It would seem possible that these two basket hilts of English munitions grade might have been in Jacobite hands, thus the defaced royal cyphers.
There were basket hilts in simpler forms like this with the various Highland units formed by the British army as early as 1709.
The Black Watch from about 1740 (then known as 43rd).

While "Swords for the Highland Regiments" (A. Darling, 1988) suggests these tall cone pommel munitions grade basket hilts were likely from a contract of 1759 from unnamed contractor, but Jeffries comes up c1768 or before.

The example I have is with the familiar hilt, but unmarked. It has been refitted in its working life with a M1788 light cavalry saber blade. This is likely from after these were returned to stores when the infantry ceased carrying swords in 1784. While there is no certainty of how this amalgamation took place, I have seen only one other example (Pat Tougher, 1994) with another I cannot specifically recall.
While interesting, it is unfortunate as without the original blade cannot determine more on dates etc.
Attached Images
    

Last edited by Jim McDougall; Today at 03:21 AM.
Jim McDougall is online now   Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.