British Infantry Officers Battle Swords in the 19th C...and up to 1914

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,
This is a great thread. British sword design is something that I find very interesting. My collection although focused on the Napoleonic period, contains many examples that show sword manufacturers were thinking about how to make their blades better at specific purposes.

Peter, I have to disagree about the paisley influence on British sword hilt design. I think it is much more about the Honeysuckle flower, which first originated prior to the 1796 patterns. Below is a photo comparing an example of a honeysuckle themed hilt on an earlier sword and a 1796 pattern heavy cavalry officer undress sword.

Also Jim, the 1908 pattern cavalry sword is a superb thrusting weapon, but is basically just a spike, with almost zero cutting ability, even when sharpened.

Cheers,
Bryce

[Bryce]

G'day Peter,
I completely agree with your point that there is no one sword design that will suit all purposes. Swords can be specialised for a single purpose, which makes them useless for other situations or they can be designed for "general purpose" where the design is a compromise and they aren't ideal for any one particular purpose. There are examples in history of soldiers carrying two swords, one being a thrusting blade and another being a cutting blade, or in the case of Lancers a lance and a sabre.

I think your example of the Japanese carrying a katana and wakizashi as being better than the British example though is flawed. The katana and wakizashi are basically identical in design, with the wakizashi just being a little shorter. The blade design, apart from length is basically the same. The way the blades are constructed also makes them blade heavy, making them difficult to use one handed, unless the blade is relatively short, so you can't easily use a katana and a pistol at the same time.

It is always about specialise or compromise.
Cheers,
Bryce

[Peter Hudson]

Originally Posted by Bryce

G'day Guys,
This is a great thread. British sword design is something that I find very interesting. My collection although focused on the Napoleonic period, contains many examples that show sword manufacturers were thinking about how to make their blades better at specific purposes.

Peter, I have to disagree about the paisley influence on British sword hilt design. I think it is much more about the Honeysuckle flower, which first originated prior to the 1796 patterns. Below is a photo comparing an example of a honeysuckle themed hilt on an earlier sword and a 1796 pattern heavy cavalry officer undress sword.

Also Jim, the 1908 pattern cavalry sword is a superb thrusting weapon, but is basically just a spike, with almost zero cutting ability, even when sharpened.

Cheers,
Bryce

Hello Bryce, Excellent pictures showing what is called honeysuckle design...I actually never heard of that name til I saw it on this thread noted by Jim and yourself. I should have my camera functioning soon and hope I can get a series of pictures uploaded of some more examples of swords in my collection. ...I dont actually have any Scinde Cavalry so its really good to see your exhibits.Thanks again for the great pictures.
I should add that the perforations cut through most of the styles in the 19th C. are a different design to the Scinde Cav. but I accept the influence of the general shape...and I have come around to accepting more than one source in the influence of these hilts.
Regards,
Peter Hudson.

[Bryce]

G'day Peter,
I don't have a Scinde cavalry sword in my collection, but I do have the 4th Light Dragoons pattern sword of Alexander Low. Some of the decoration on this hilt is similar to the Scinde pattern. Low ordered this sword with a custom hilt and Toledo blade from Henry Wilkinson on his return from the Crimean War, having survived the charge of the light brigade.
Cheers,
Bryce

[Peter Hudson]

Originally Posted by Bryce

G'day Peter,
I don't have a Scinde cavalry sword in my collection, but I do have the 4th Light Dragoons pattern sword of Alexander Low. Some of the decoration on this hilt is similar to the Scinde pattern. Low ordered this sword with a custom hilt and Toledo blade from Henry Wilkinson on his return from the Crimean War, having survived the charge of the light brigade.
Cheers,
Bryce

Hello Bryce, Oh I thought this was a Scinde Cavalry Sword, I have to say its a superb piece... Thanks for showing this.
Peter Hudson.

[Peter Hudson]

One thing I like to feed in are good videos on all things antique weaponry... especially in this case on Swords..Please do hit the buttons and view these as they are very well placed for easy viewing and are excellent for information...I use the Matt Easton videos which I find very good so expect a few of these to turn up ... Matt has an extensive range of the 19thC.British Sword variety thus I will feature his work a lot..

Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJm6OBHZcxs

Peter Hudson.

[Will M]

Here is a Scinde cavalry sword, a Wilkinson made in 1856. Maj W.T. Johnson. He used this sword while charging a rebel gun. The first photo the sword is over a 1796 trooper sword to compare blade curvature that looks to be the same.

[Peter Hudson]

Originally Posted by Will M

Here is a Scinde cavalry sword, a Wilkinson made in 1856. Maj W.T. Johnson. He used this sword while charging a rebel gun. The first photo the sword is over a 1796 trooper sword to compare blade curvature that looks to be the same.

Hello Will,
Interesting seeing it lined up with the`1796 and I imagine how that would have been used against Tulvars and the like. The floral design looks amazing and was apparently from Icanthus leaf designs. This was a great Officer and the Sword and battle Honours you present with it are great to see...
Regards,
Peter Hudson.