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Old 28th September 2010, 08:38 PM   #3
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,190
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Completely agree with Norman's assessment, which affirms what Valjhun had astutely suggested, it is a police or prison warders hanger, and from an extremely esoteric sector of arms collecting.

In "William Parker and Parker Field, Gunmakers" by Frederick Wilkinson ("Arms and Armour Annual"Vol. I ed. Robert Held, 1973, pp. 275-282) it describes the arms produced by these makers, who were select contractors supplying the police. Thier premises at 233 Holborn were actually along the road where criminals were taken from Newgate Prison to the gallows at Tyburn and halfway between Newgate and St. Giles Church.

The blade style on this is nearly identical to the example on p.276, fig. 3&4 and the blade at the tip has the same false edge on the back of the tip (this is not actually a yelman which is an expanded 'stepped' blade tip). The stirrup hilt is rounded, suggesting a later example (c. 1860s) but this hanger could date from 1850s to 1870s, there are not really enough examples represented to say for sure.

It seems the acid etched blade motif was quite varied, but the forte panel configuration seems more aligned with the style used c.1820s when they were using cavalry M1822 type sabres, and these outfitters supplied these units as well as police, who were in a sense auxiliary units. There were etched panels running longitudinally in the fuller used on earlier examples suggested by Mr. Wilkinson, but these seem more toward the 1860s in my experience. I have seen examples similar to Solingen imports by Luneschloss of that period with that type of panel it seems, but its been quite a few years, I know they were Civil War period.
As Parker Field were primarily gunsmiths, as well as outfitters I believe thier edged weapons blades and perhaps the entire swords were imported, with the firm name etched onto the blade.

Very nice hanger, and as noted, a most desirable item of arms esoterica.

All the best,
Jim
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