regiment markings on swords

[terry1956]

hi. have any fellow members have any details of regiment markings on napoleonic swords and sabres. I have seen the prince of wales mark, how common was it to mark a weapon, thanks, michael

[Jim McDougall]

Michael, it was very much typical to mark the swords of the rank and file of military units, typically showing the unit as well as applicable inventory numbers in these times. While familiar with the British units, it seems that most European and others did this as well.
The officers usually ordered thier own weapons privately so inventory type stamps did not apply.
Naturally a great deal of this data can be found on line these days, if I recall correctly in the B.C. days (before computer) we used Robson quite a lot for British markings and 'Hughes & Fox' a small pamphlet for British and German unit abbreviations.

Swords were marked usually on both hilt and scabbard throat, i.e.
2D =2nd Dragoons, Royal Scots Greys

other inventory marks below

I'm not sure how the French and German units were in markings in Napoleonic times.

BTW, while not familiar with what you mean by Prince of Wales mark, I know it was the device to the 10th Prince of Wales Own Hussars.

[terry1956]

thanks jim, this is an officers weapon, marked 16LD, then B17. I just don,t think that an officers sword would be so marked with what i think is a rack number,I have also found the mark on the guard. maybe it was just away to push the price up. the PoW feathers was the mark i have seen on many sabres marked to dragoon officers, michael

[Evgeny_K]

Originally Posted by terry1956

thanks jim, this is an officers weapon, marked 16LD, then B17. I just don,t think that an officers sword would be so marked with what i think is a rack number,I have also found the mark on the guard. maybe it was just away to push the price up. the PoW feathers was the mark i have seen on many sabres marked to dragoon officers, michael

The 16th (The Queen's) Light Dragoons

[fernando]

A 1796 Light Cavalry sabre for an officer ?

[Jim McDougall]

Evgeny, good call.....16th Light Dragoons it is.....or would have been if it had been on a troopers sword. This is of course, as Fernando points out, a M1796 British light cavalry officers sabre. One of these with this grade of nicely etched blade and with grip wrap intact would have been far more valuable without the 'graffiti' scratched into the langet.
Certain dealers with particular interest in the Sikh Wars might have been attracted to the this regiment as they were prominantly involved. However, they were lancers by this time and presumably arms would have been marked accordingly, not as light dragoons.

Michael, as noted the POW feathers were on sabres attributed to the 10th Light Dragoons around 1790s and then were in silver on a specially fashioned hilt issued c.1810 but only in small number (between 24 and 41 sabres) of the M1796 type. These were of course soon superceded by the M1821.
I am unware of the POW feathers appearing as a mark or symbolic on swords of other attribution...can you please say more on that?

All best regards,
Jim

[Gavin Nugent]

Someone please confirm for me that the forum rules have changes and it is ok to present images of and discuss an item up for auction.....I was never advised of this change.....it is well over a week before this auction passes....

[fernando]

Thread closed due to rules transgression; item in active auction.