Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - 1796 LCS - Early Woolley Blade with Later WDD Scabbard?

Norman McCormick · 16th April 2025, 06:00 PM

Hi,
I have a 1796 H.C. sword the blade stamped for Gill with the War Office acceptance marks and the scabbard marked Osborn and Gunby Birmingham. Now whether this is a contemporary mating done at the time of use e.g. battlefield pickups or replacement or a later mating by an owner or even a dealer is impossible to know. I like to think they were put together after a battle when stray weapons were gathered together for future use. I got it from a credible source in Portugal so possibly a mating done during the Peninsular campaign as many such swords were used by both British and Portuguese troops.
Regards,
Norman.

16th April 2025, 06:00 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi, I have a 1796 H.C. sword the blade stamped for Gill with the War Office acceptance marks and the scabbard marked Osborn and Gunby Birmingham. Now whether this is a contemporary mating done at the time of use e.g. battlefield pickups or replacement or a later mating by an owner or even a dealer is impossible to know. I like to think they were put together after a battle when stray weapons were gathered together for future use. I got it from a credible source in Portugal so possibly a mating done during the Peninsular campaign as many such swords were used by both British and Portuguese troops. Regards, Norman.