Unmarked P1796 L.C. Troopers Sabre

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

It seems that in this period, and later, many swords purchased by the EIC were of course not inspected nor marked by the Tower. As far as I have known, swords were not marked by the Company, and as David Harding ("Small Arms of the East India Company") told me some years ago, 'swords were NOT marked in any way by the EIC'.

The only marks were the familiar 'bale marks' (the quartered heart with VEIC) as used on goods and firearms (incl. bayonets). .

Hi Jim,
In Richard Dellar's book The British Cavalry Sword 1788-1912 plate 4.10
he shows a blade with an E.I.C. inspection stamp on the blade i.e. a G over the number 4. He also states that the letters A to R were used between 1837 and 1852 the letter G corresponding to 1843-44. This is an E.I.C. pattern 301 sword virtually identical to the P1796 except the fuller is somewhat shorter.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,
In Richard Dellar's book The British Cavalry Sword 1788-1912 plate 4.10
he shows a blade with an E.I.C. inspection stamp on the blade i.e. a G over the number 4. He also states that the letters A to R were used between 1837 and 1852 the letter G corresponding to 1843-44. This is an E.I.C. pattern 301 sword virtually identical to the P1796 except the fuller is somewhat shorter.
My Regards,
Norman.

How the heck did I miss that!??? Thank you Norman!!!
I had not thought of 'those' markings for some time, though now I do recall seeing this detail. What I was thinking of was the familiar EIC balemark, which did indeed turn up on the socket bayonets.

Interesting that MOLE made the 1796 as the '301' pattern for quite some time, and I know that J Bourne& Son (a Wilkinson supplier) also made swords of 1796 'type' for Indian cavalry around 1880s. Obviously this was well after the EIC demise in late1850s so no such markings.

The thing is that the 1796 and these 'stirrup' hilts remained in favor in India into the early 20th century in places. This one is from a 13th Bengal lancers armory from 1930s.

In the 1820s as the new sabers of 1821 pattern were being produced there was a great deal of 'complaint' on them and about 1826 they ceased production, not effectively returning to production until mid 1830s.
There were apparently so many 1796s in stores, and the men preferred them anyway, so in many cases the 1796 remained in use a lot longer than we have realized.