Anglo Indian sword - ID needed!

[kronckew]

The wire loops used to sew up the scabbard are often found on Ottoman scabbards.

[mariusgmioc]

The scabbard is apparently a replacement and looks Turkish Ottoman.

[Jim McDougall]

Certainly appears to be something produced during the British Raj in India, likely for some quasi military guard or police/security force, and inherently copying the British 'gothic' style officers hilts of 1822.

The cartouche on these typically had the cypher for Queen Victoria, however as British swordmakers later in the century began producing swords for other colonial entities, they often substituted pertinent other devices.

In this case, this is clearly a copy made in India replicating the feathered backstrap and cartouche in 'Gothic' structured hilt. The 'thunderbolts' likely represent the Vajra symbolism in Tantric Buddhism, and as noted, may apply to use of this sword in some uniform capacity for a unit as mentioned.

The scabbard is as noted an Ottoman associated (in style) example.

[A.alnakkas]

can you take additional detailed images of the blade?

[milandro]

as said before this is an insignia common among several armies in the world depicting a radio operator

the brass badge is by a RFC radio operator, the other one, probably Luftwaffe, is pretty much identical to the " crest" (Insigna) on the sword. Thus it's a western symbol.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Milandro! Positive support for the military application of this symbol. This is truly unique and hoping we might find more on the military units that would incorporate these communications specialists.

[milandro]

well, I found quite a few armies with similar insignia for radio communication specialist

The German army has the closest resemblance


But the workmanship of the guard is very very crude , I cannot believe that this would be an army issued weapon. Certainly NOT if this was made in the radio days, even the earliest it would be , at best the early 1900.

The " crest " is, I believe, not at all a crest of any sort. Germany did have colonial troops operating in many theaters at the time and its insignia MAY have inspired someone who ha nothing to do directly with Germany to make such a weapon.