ROYAL ENGINEER SWORD M 1897.

thinreadline · 16th December 2011, 06:58 PM

Alexander
Yes indeed you do have a Royal Engineer officers sword ... the straight blade came into issue in 1892 but the plated steel guard your sword has, was not authorised for RE officers until sometime between 1897 and 1900 , although it was issued to Infantry officers from 1895.
RE officers regulation pattern swords began with the 1822 curved pipeback pattern, and this was followed in 1845 by a similar sword but with a curved fullered blade . Both of these were simply the standard infantry officers sword.. though often RE marked in the way yours is. However in 1857 a special sword just for RE officers was introduced , the blade was the old 1845 one but there was a new pierced bowl handguard .This was issued until the introduction of your pattern sword.
The winged thunderbolts are not exclusive to Royal Engineer swords, they are also found on Royal Artillery swords . This device must be in recognition of the fact that both the Artillery & the Engineers deal in explosions ! The earliest sword I have with this device on , is an 1822 pattern RA Officers sword.
Hope this helps.

16th December 2011, 06:58 PM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Alexander Yes indeed you do have a Royal Engineer officers sword ... the straight blade came into issue in 1892 but the plated steel guard your sword has, was not authorised for RE officers until sometime between 1897 and 1900 , although it was issued to Infantry officers from 1895. RE officers regulation pattern swords began with the 1822 curved pipeback pattern, and this was followed in 1845 by a similar sword but with a curved fullered blade . Both of these were simply the standard infantry officers sword.. though often RE marked in the way yours is. However in 1857 a special sword just for RE officers was introduced , the blade was the old 1845 one but there was a new pierced bowl handguard .This was issued until the introduction of your pattern sword. The winged thunderbolts are not exclusive to Royal Engineer swords, they are also found on Royal Artillery swords . This device must be in recognition of the fact that both the Artillery & the Engineers deal in explosions ! The earliest sword I have with this device on , is an 1822 pattern RA Officers sword. Hope this helps.