Strange British Naval Sabre

Cathey · 1st July 2026, 07:14 AM

I originally viewed this sword as part of the Pitt Collection in the possession of the South Australian Museum at the time. This was on the 4th of August 2004, according to the pictures I took then. Recently the museum had made the decision to destroy the collection, however someone suggested they send it to an interstate auction house instead. No one in South Australia was alerted to this decision. Thankfully eventually the word got out, and I was able to secure this sword at auction.

I have never seen a guard like it and was hoping someone out there might have encounterd a similar example. It has GR and the British Coat of arms on the blade, sadly very faint now.

Cheers Cathey

Will M · 1st July 2026, 02:34 PM

That's a wonderful hilt. You would assume the original owner would have his portrait painted showing this sword?
What do you mean regarding a museum destroying a collection? Have people gone mad?

Cathey · 2nd July 2026, 02:19 AM

Hi Will, yes in Australian museums have gone quiet mad. They will not exhibit anything that is not aboriginal despite the fact that we are supposedly a multicultural nation made up the descendents of immigrants from all over the world.

What is even more infuriating is that the museum in question invited the Heritage arms society to view the collection in 2004, yet when they were considering destroying it, didn’t even bother to contact the society.

Cheers Cathey

Rick · 3rd July 2026, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathey

Hi Will, yes in Australian museums have gone quiet mad. They will not exhibit anything that is not aboriginal despite the fact that we are supposedly a multicultural nation made up the descendents of immigrants from all over the world.

What is even more infuriating is that the museum in question invited the Heritage arms society to view the collection in 2004, yet when they were considering destroying it, didn’t even bother to contact the society.

Cheers Cathey

I don't understand the guilt complex that leads to this kind of behavior.

drac2k · 3rd July 2026, 02:26 PM

Ignorance, Stupity, & Manipulation ........

Ian · Yesterday, 10:44 PM

I don't know why this museum initially chose to destroy rather than sell off their "foreign" arms collection. However, Australian regulators and politicians are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to restrict ownership of any form of weapon by its citizens. There is a belief that tight control of ownership of weapons will restrict violent acts.

Unfortunately, violence plays out anyway. The most recent efforts to limit ownership of weapons has been a poorly crafted law in the State if Victoria that prohibits ownership of "machetes" unless one has a permit for such a weapon. The legal definition of a machete is so broad that it encompasses any large knife made at any time.

adrian · Yesterday, 11:20 PM

I couldn't agree more. I recently imported two British c1840 percussion single shot pistols. To my dismay the import permits I had from the Victorian Police was useless due to a new importation of hanguns law since 'Bondi'. Now a Home Affairs Firearms Import Permit is required - the only snag is that they have no pathway for antique hanguns in place yet, so playing the waiting game there. In this case they have sidelined a perfectly functional system and replaced it with a dysfunctional system.

I don't know why this museum initially chose to destroy rather than sell off their "foreign" arms collection.

It was due to their storage space being reduced and some things had to go, however that they could have even considered such destruction beggars belief and thank goodness that did not occur. I gather that other museum/s were given a chance to select important items prior to the remainder being sold by auction and so some items remain in public collections, where they are unlikely to ever be on display anyway......

1st July 2026, 07:14 AM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 286	Strange British Naval Sabre I originally viewed this sword as part of the Pitt Collection in the possession of the South Australian Museum at the time. This was on the 4th of August 2004, according to the pictures I took then. Recently the museum had made the decision to destroy the collection, however someone suggested they send it to an interstate auction house instead. No one in South Australia was alerted to this decision. Thankfully eventually the word got out, and I was able to secure this sword at auction. I have never seen a guard like it and was hoping someone out there might have encounterd a similar example. It has GR and the British Coat of arms on the blade, sadly very faint now. Cheers Cathey Attached Images

2nd July 2026, 02:19 AM	#3
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 286	Australian museums have gone quiet mad Hi Will, yes in Australian museums have gone quiet mad. They will not exhibit anything that is not aboriginal despite the fact that we are supposedly a multicultural nation made up the descendents of immigrants from all over the world. What is even more infuriating is that the museum in question invited the Heritage arms society to view the collection in 2004, yet when they were considering destroying it, didn’t even bother to contact the society. Cheers Cathey

1st July 2026, 02:34 PM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 433	That's a wonderful hilt. You would assume the original owner would have his portrait painted showing this sword? What do you mean regarding a museum destroying a collection? Have people gone mad?

3rd July 2026, 02:26 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,334	Ignorance, Stupity, & Manipulation ........

Yesterday, 10:44 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,740	I don't know why this museum initially chose to destroy rather than sell off their "foreign" arms collection. However, Australian regulators and politicians are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to restrict ownership of any form of weapon by its citizens. There is a belief that tight control of ownership of weapons will restrict violent acts. Unfortunately, violence plays out anyway. The most recent efforts to limit ownership of weapons has been a poorly crafted law in the State if Victoria that prohibits ownership of "machetes" unless one has a permit for such a weapon. The legal definition of a machete is so broad that it encompasses any large knife made at any time.

Yesterday, 11:20 PM	#7
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 138	I couldn't agree more. I recently imported two British c1840 percussion single shot pistols. To my dismay the import permits I had from the Victorian Police was useless due to a new importation of hanguns law since 'Bondi'. Now a Home Affairs Firearms Import Permit is required - the only snag is that they have no pathway for antique hanguns in place yet, so playing the waiting game there. In this case they have sidelined a perfectly functional system and replaced it with a dysfunctional system. I don't know why this museum initially chose to destroy rather than sell off their "foreign" arms collection. It was due to their storage space being reduced and some things had to go, however that they could have even considered such destruction beggars belief and thank goodness that did not occur. I gather that other museum/s were given a chance to select important items prior to the remainder being sold by auction and so some items remain in public collections, where they are unlikely to ever be on display anyway......