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15th August 2021, 11:06 AM | #1 |
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A short-sword, or hanger. Naval officers fighting sword?? Police of the period carried hangers on occasion. An overall photo of the sword and the point is usually informative regarding it being shortened. Engravings like shown are moire typical of pre-pattern swords.
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15th August 2021, 11:18 AM | #2 |
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15th August 2021, 11:58 AM | #3 |
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Some more pictures. If you look closely you can see that the fuller runs almost to the point. So perhaps the blade was shortened for some reason.
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15th August 2021, 02:26 PM | #4 | |
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Not necessarily and probably not. Many blades of the latter 18thC have fullers that run to the point. I have several with this on both straight and curved blades. Regards, Norman. |
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15th August 2021, 03:52 PM | #5 |
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Great comments and on point observations. I agree with this probably being a band hanger or of that genre as suggested by David R. Well noted by Richard and Wayne on the possible law enforcement use and Richards note on later Parker Field swords for the law enforcement of the years into mid 19th and beyond, this is a field of edged weapons not well traveled.
The 'warranted' inscription does not really have to do with battle 'testing' but came from the 'sword scandals' in late 1780s in England. A group of English blade makers, led by Birmingham swordsmith Thomas Gill began protesting the long standing practice of importing blades from Germany. He claimed the English blades were as good and actually better than the German imports, and initiated testing to prove it. In the subsequent testing of his blades and several others including Henry Osborn, it was proven as only several of the English blades failed where the failures in the numbers of German blades were considerable. From here, beginning with Thomas Gill, he began to place the motto on the blade, 'WARRANTED NEVER TO FAIL'. I have a M1788 Thomas Gill saber with that inscription on the back of the blade. Through the 1790s as late as perhaps 1810, he and several English makers would place the 'warranted' notice on their blades, though typically officers along with etched or inscribed motif. Officers swords were well decorated, and typically not exactly 'combat' oriented, as in those times officers were not expected to participate in the action, but their swords were mostly used to 'direct' etc. Naturally, that was not always the case, but I have always noticed officers blades were in many instances notably shorter, though by only about 5 ". In this I agree with Cel7, the warranted signifies the testing of the blade quality, not combat readiness. |
15th August 2021, 09:44 PM | #6 |
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G'day Guys,
My 5 cents worth. The grip and knuckleguard are unusual for a sword of this time period. The rounded knucklebow/guard remind me of later constabulary hangers, but I guess is also similar to the rounded knucklebow of some 1803's. The scabbard has almost certainly been shortened as the scabbard chape does not match the locket. The full length fuller is often seen on earlier blades, but is unusual in a blade of this period. I think the blade has been shortened, but it obviously wasn't done recently. I guess there is no sign of a maker's name on the other side of the blade? I think it started out life as a normal sized sword that was later shortened. What is the width at the ricasso? Cheers, Bryce |
15th August 2021, 10:40 PM | #7 | |
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15th August 2021, 10:40 PM | #8 | |
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15th August 2021, 11:24 PM | #9 |
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26th November 2021, 10:47 AM | #10 | |
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26th November 2021, 10:59 AM | #11 |
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Interesting hanger Cel, does it have a Royal Cypher on the blade?
The markings look late 18th Century, very early 19th Century to me. Personally I don’t think the blade has been shortened as the termination of the fuller follows the curve of the blade tip. Cheers Bas |
13th December 2021, 02:22 AM | #12 | |
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In the 1780s the Treasury was receiving requests from many of the London makers and suppliers to remove the duty on imported swords and blades, owing to the alleged inferior quality of English swords. Seeing his livelihood threatened Thomas Gill wrote to the treasury that his swords were as good as any coming out of Germany and requested that a test be performed comparing his blades to the imported ones. This request was passed on to the Board of Ordnance who replied that the purchasing of swords with the responsibility of the colonels of individual regiments. Not content to leave the matter, Thomas Gill continued with his campaign to have tests taken. When, in 1786 the East India Company placed an order with various suppliers for 10,000 horsemen's swords Thomas once more called for comparative tests to be performed. In October 1786 the first tests were performed on a special machine made for the East India Shipping Committee, which included swords by Gill, Runkel, Hervey. I'll post the results when I have them to hand later today, but needless to say, Gill's swords came out the clear favourite. Runkel's swords from Solingen came in second and quite a bit ahead of the other two which does in part support what was being claimed about the state of English sword manufacturing. |
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13th December 2021, 07:18 AM | #13 |
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Results of the test, as you can imagine, Woolley was not happy with the results and felt ambushed by the tests.
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15th August 2021, 12:01 PM | #14 |
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I think this is a British 'non-military' sword of the type supplied to and used by watchmen, constables, bank guards, prison officers etc. Possibly also customs officers and the merchant navy, altho' there is no evidence of a nautical connection. It seems an early example of what later became a very recognisable type associated with Parker Field.
Regards Richard |
15th August 2021, 12:30 PM | #15 | |
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I doubt that actually. "warranted" means that the weapon is tested for strenght, hardness, flexibility etc. This was a guarantee that you bought a weapon that met the requirments needed on the battlefield. In other words, a more expensive weapon. Why would you do that if you knew that you probably never need to use it?! |
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15th August 2021, 01:52 PM | #16 | |
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