Anglo-Indian army swords

[mrcjgscott]

Hi Silver John,

I owe you an apology I think: I keep forgetting to check up the thread for your moderated posts to appear, therefore I have missed some of your posts. I apologise if it seemed as though I was ignoring your contribution, it is indeed much appreciated!

Attached are some additional images of the crest. The quality is slightly dubious, due mostly to the rollercoaster which is British summertime!

I am happy to try again if they are not up to snuff!

Kind regards,

Chris

[Silver John]

Originally Posted by mrcjgscott

Hi Silver John,

I owe you an apology I think

Not at all Chris! I just hope I'm not boring everyone to tears, or enraging those whose language I'm butchering.

Thanks for the clearer pictures. To me it looks like the fifth character is Tha + either I or O. Because of the way the bar at the top is squashed it's very hard for me to tell which it's supposed to be. It could be something else entirely though. The character for the aspirated retroflex Dha looks roughly similar, could be a poor version of that?

My best guess is Ri Ya Sa Ta Thi/Tho Ta. No Idea what that last bit could mean though!

I've attached some images, so you can decide for yourself.

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by Silver John

Not at all Chris! I just hope I'm not boring everyone to tears, or enraging those whose language I'm butchering.

Thanks for the clearer pictures. To me it looks like the fifth character is Tha + either I or O. Because of the way the bar at the top is squashed it's very hard for me to tell which it's supposed to be. It could be something else entirely though. The character for the aspirated retroflex Dha looks roughly similar, could be a poor version of that?

My best guess is Ri Ya Sa Ta Thi/Tho Ta. No Idea what that last bit could mean though!

I've attached some images, so you can decide for yourself.

Further apologies SilverJohn,

Once again I completely missed this post of yours!

Many thanks indeed for taking the time to look into this conundrum. I don't have any gut reaction as to what it might mean, but I shall certainly give it some more thought.

Once again, your research is much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Chris

[mrcjgscott]

Here are a few pictures of an Indian Cavalry Sword made by Wilkinson, one of the few pieces I was not able to nail down a solid provenance for.

No orders seemed to remain extant for such pieces in the Wilkinson archive, and it was proposed that the sword may have indeed been a one off or trial piece.

It now resides with the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

[mrcjgscott]

Here are a few more shots, showing the typical double ring top mount found on these 1821 hilted, 1796 blades pieces.

Interestingly the scabbard has been "tarted up" post service with the addition of a bright velvet cover, so these blades may have been carried a long time after official service ended.

Do let me know if you are getting bored of these images, and I will stop!!

[mrcjgscott]

This example was carried by Jacobs Horse.

It was manufactured by Wilkinson sword. One side was signed with their name in English, the other in Hindi. (Advertising is advertising!)

Note the similarities to the hilt of the British 1853 pattern.

Kind regards,

Chris

[mrcjgscott]

This sword was part of an India Office order placed with Robert Mole for 500 swords and 500 scabbards of Bengal Native Cavalry pattern dated 3rd August 1886. Sword priced at 10/6d each and scabbards at 8/3d.

The specification quotes: "The Hilt to be best cast malleable iron. the medallion to be stamped and pierced and neatly fitted to the hilt."

Almost certainly produced for Viceroy Commissioned Officers with the crown and Imperial cypher.