Osborn's G Stamp

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Bryce,
Thank you for keeping us up to date on this topic! This is an interesting example of the M1796 officers sword, which I think was used for some time even beyond the 1822 patterns as it was entirely a dress sword. It seems I read somewhere that British officers hated these for use on campaign.

The Osborn & Gunby inscription and motif and absence of the forte letter stamp we have been discussing is most interesting. It seems that Mowbray had suggested as partners (1808) the use of a GG was used instead of the O or Ob formerly used.

Without really having a better idea of what these letters stamped at the forte actually meant it is hard to really say if a blade without them can be placed in a certain time frame. At one point it seems it was suggested that these letters may have been indicating a blade or sword for export to America. If that was the case, perhaps this was simply one that was for British use?

[Bryce]

G'day Jim,

All Osborn marked officers' swords have either a G or GG stamp. Most Osborn and Gunby swords have either a G or GG stamp, so the GG stamp does not differentiate Osborn and Gunby made swords from those made solely by Osborn. I have never come across an Osborn marked sword with an O or Ob stamp. What does differentiate Osborn swords from those made by Osborn and Gunby is the font of the G stamp. Osborn and Gunby made swords have a sans serif G stamp. There is also no correlation with swords made for export to America with the presence or absence of a G stamp. If enough dated Osborn and Gunby officers' swords could be examined, I am sure we would find that past a certain date, Osborn and Gunby stopped using the G stamp.


Cheers,

Bryce

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks very much Bryce! That insight explains a lot, and I know you've done extensive research on this topic and with these swords so I will definitely amend my notes.
All the best
Jim

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,
Just a quick update on my latest research on Osborn's G stamp. I have looked at many more blades and it is still true that all Osborn marked officers' swords and virtually all Osborn and Gunby marked officers' swords are stamped G or GG.

There is an interesting sword coming up for auction at Morphy Auctions in America. It is an American silver hilted spadroon with a blade marked to R Bolton and Co with a G stamp. The hilt has the Birmingham silver marks for 1805.

I have never come across a British sword marked to Bolton, so it seems that if Bolton made sword blades, he only did so for the American market which would be odd! A look thru the Birmingham trade directories for this period reveals the following results:

There was an RP Bolton, Gunsmith who pops up from time to time around this period.
There was a JH Bolton, Gun maker and occasional cutler consistently around this period
There was a Richard Bolton and Co, Merchant consistently thru this period.

Based on this and the absence of British marked Bolton swords the most likely explanation is that the R Bolton and Co marked American swords were put together using Osborn sword blades and exported to America by R Bolton and Co the merchants. I am unsure if Bolton and Co used Osborn blades exclusively or sourced them from several makers. If Bolton marked swords without a G stamp exist it means that Bolton and Co sourced blades from several makers.

This particular G stamp looks to be somewhere in Between the earlier Osborn G stamp with serifs and the later Osborn and Gunby G stamp sans serif. I don't know if the change in G stamp was intentional or just came about by the older G stamp tools wearing out around the time of the change from Osborn to Osborn and Gunby.

Cheers,
Bryce

[Hotspur]

More likely, the blade itself may have come from Osborn. In post #10 of this thread, I attached a series of images with a blade with a G and the eagle type known to be Bolton's. There are also some other distinctive etching that can be seen from more than one "producer".

Then in post #25, a sword not marked to Osborn with a G marked blade.

If I posted a Woolley&Deakin marked blade with an Americanized eagle head pommel sword, would I attribute the whole to Woolley&Deakin? Or conceptualize that blades were a commodity?

Cheers
GC

[Bryce]

G'day GC,
I completely agree. The blade is by Osborn, I am not suggesting the hilt must also be by Osborn.
Cheers,
Bryce

[Hotspur]

I've been meaning to add this one, also sold by Shiloh Relics back in 2020. A blade marked with O and G and something else. Looks like an 1803 type blade on a Bolton type slotted hilt eagle pommel.

Cheers
GC