British lionhead dragoon officer 4 slot hilt

Jim McDougall · Today, 04:32 AM

Eljay was right, this hilt is of a design which was popular for British cavalry officers, the brass, curled bars in guard, lionhead, gadrooned bone grip.
As he noted, he had owned the example here back in the 70s.

The example seen in "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution:, George Nuemann, 1973, is indeed with shorter blade, actually not a hanger but a short saber with 28" blade. It was part of Norm Flayderman's collection as shown in Neumann.

When I acquired this sword in 1978, it was how I met Eljay. I had another British dragoon sword on layaway and was making payments

for months. Somehow when I made my last payment, the sword had been sold inadvertently to another buyer. Norm was mortified, and in making things right, he sold me this dragoon officers sword.
The great thing was, turned out Eljay lived only 2 miles from me! and we struck up a great friendship, busily collecting British cavalry swords in league.

As Eljay notes here.......this sword has obviously had its blade replaced, but in its working life, thus no capstan, as seen.

While the British cavalry had been experimenting with LIGHT DRAGOONS in the late 1750s, and with lighter sabers with shorter blades...the usual dragoon regiments had maintained much longer straight blades. My thinking is that this example which Norm had, was with the exchanged blade and redundant to the example he provided to Nuemann, thus he put it up for sale. As Eljay noted, the blade change was not in line with his collecting agenda, so it was returned, and I ended up with it in '78.

The hilt form was popular c.1770 and apparently used by several cutlers, it seems READ in Dublin, on mine, was just one outfitter, and may have been who fit the new longer blade.

Jim McDougall · Today, 06:36 AM

"...the sword remained as the symbol of manly honor through the eighteenth century and was especially favored among British military officers, often to the annoyance of the provincial Americans".
"Arming America: The Origins of a National
Gun Culture"
Michael Bellesiles, 2000, p.169
Added this to illustrate the constant importance of the sword among British officers , and the remounting of certain fashionable or heirloom hilts with blades more in accord with changes in fighting style or personal preference.

urbanspaceman · Today, 10:59 AM

This is a real treat Guys.

Today, 04:32 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,449	Swords DO get around! Eljay was right, this hilt is of a design which was popular for British cavalry officers, the brass, curled bars in guard, lionhead, gadrooned bone grip. As he noted, he had owned the example here back in the 70s. The example seen in "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution:, George Nuemann, 1973, is indeed with shorter blade, actually not a hanger but a short saber with 28" blade. It was part of Norm Flayderman's collection as shown in Neumann. When I acquired this sword in 1978, it was how I met Eljay. I had another British dragoon sword on layaway and was making payments for months. Somehow when I made my last payment, the sword had been sold inadvertently to another buyer. Norm was mortified, and in making things right, he sold me this dragoon officers sword. The great thing was, turned out Eljay lived only 2 miles from me! and we struck up a great friendship, busily collecting British cavalry swords in league. As Eljay notes here.......this sword has obviously had its blade replaced, but in its working life, thus no capstan, as seen. While the British cavalry had been experimenting with LIGHT DRAGOONS in the late 1750s, and with lighter sabers with shorter blades...the usual dragoon regiments had maintained much longer straight blades. My thinking is that this example which Norm had, was with the exchanged blade and redundant to the example he provided to Nuemann, thus he put it up for sale. As Eljay noted, the blade change was not in line with his collecting agenda, so it was returned, and I ended up with it in '78. The hilt form was popular c.1770 and apparently used by several cutlers, it seems READ in Dublin, on mine, was just one outfitter, and may have been who fit the new longer blade. Attached Images

Today, 06:36 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,449	Swords during the American Revolution "...the sword remained as the symbol of manly honor through the eighteenth century and was especially favored among British military officers, often to the annoyance of the provincial Americans". "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" Michael Bellesiles, 2000, p.169 Added this to illustrate the constant importance of the sword among British officers , and the remounting of certain fashionable or heirloom hilts with blades more in accord with changes in fighting style or personal preference.

Today, 10:59 AM	#3
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 685	A joyous thread This is a real treat Guys.