British sabre with ivory grip

daggpil · 4th January 2021, 06:29 PM

Hello!

I am curious about the depicted sabre. Unfortunately no scabbard..Grip seems to be of ivory and the stongly curved blade is etched with British coat of arms and "Warranted".

What exactly was under the warranty? Blade of course, but in what aspects?

Hilt has traces of guilding and also the blade.

Any other information about this is highly appreciated.

Best regards/Ulrik Sjöberg, Sweden.

Jim McDougall · 4th January 2021, 07:18 PM

Interesting Georgian saber probably c. 1804, the lionhead resembles the M1803 British infantry and flank company officers sabers but without the pierced knuckleguard w/ cypher.
The grip reminds me of naval officers swords of this period.

The 'warranted' was of course to the blade, and arose with the 'sword scandals ' of the late1780s where Thomas Gill of Birmingham challenged the German imported blades which were dominating the contracts for East India Co.
There were tests on the blades and he was joined by Henry Osborn and James Wooley. These makers took to marking the blades 'warranted' (Gill used 'Warranted Never to Fail").
It seems Osborn often used the warranted word alone, not sure on Wooley.

Bryce · 4th January 2021, 09:33 PM

G'day Ulrik,

To add to what Jim has posted, most of these stirrup-hilted lion head swords predate the 1803 pattern infantry officer sword. I have one with a horn grip which is dated 1799. Ivory gripped examples like yours were favoured by militia and volunteer regiment officers whose swords tended to be a little fancier than their regular army cousins.

Below is a photo of Thomas Gill's full warranted spiel on a 1796 light cavalry officer's sabre.

Cheers,
Bryce

Norman McCormick · 4th January 2021, 10:15 PM

Hi,
Here is an image of the Osborn's Warranted logo on an officers 1796 L.C. sabre manufactured between 1796 and 1801.
Regards,
Norman.

Will M · 5th January 2021, 12:07 AM

I would assume a warranted sword would rarely be warranted.
If the blade broke during battle slim chance of you surviving.
A good looking sword!

Jim McDougall · 5th January 2021, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will M

I would assume a warranted sword would rarely be warranted.
If the blade broke during battle slim chance of you surviving.
A good looking sword!

True Will, its like the old parachute axiom, if it fails to open, take it back.

However, the idea is, I want to know the sword will prevail BEFORE I take it into battle. There had been long periods of terrible blade making in England, and Gill et al, decided it was time to stop depending on Germany for blades and build the English reputation.

First three pics are a Thomas Gill M1788 cavalry saber, warranted on blade back.
The ivory hilt saber is M1796 yeomanry officer with curious saber knot bar near cross guard. These yeomanry officers had even more latitude than regular regiments officers so the individuality was notable.

These examples are not in great condition but just illustrations of the forms.

4th January 2021, 06:29 PM	#1
daggpil Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 25	British sabre with ivory grip Hello! I am curious about the depicted sabre. Unfortunately no scabbard..Grip seems to be of ivory and the stongly curved blade is etched with British coat of arms and "Warranted". What exactly was under the warranty? Blade of course, but in what aspects? Hilt has traces of guilding and also the blade. Any other information about this is highly appreciated. Best regards/Ulrik Sjöberg, Sweden. Attached Images

4th January 2021, 09:33 PM	#3
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 186	G'day Ulrik, To add to what Jim has posted, most of these stirrup-hilted lion head swords predate the 1803 pattern infantry officer sword. I have one with a horn grip which is dated 1799. Ivory gripped examples like yours were favoured by militia and volunteer regiment officers whose swords tended to be a little fancier than their regular army cousins. Below is a photo of Thomas Gill's full warranted spiel on a 1796 light cavalry officer's sabre. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

4th January 2021, 10:15 PM	#4
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi, Here is an image of the Osborn's Warranted logo on an officers 1796 L.C. sabre manufactured between 1796 and 1801. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

4th January 2021, 07:18 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Interesting Georgian saber probably c. 1804, the lionhead resembles the M1803 British infantry and flank company officers sabers but without the pierced knuckleguard w/ cypher. The grip reminds me of naval officers swords of this period. The 'warranted' was of course to the blade, and arose with the 'sword scandals ' of the late1780s where Thomas Gill of Birmingham challenged the German imported blades which were dominating the contracts for East India Co. There were tests on the blades and he was joined by Henry Osborn and James Wooley. These makers took to marking the blades 'warranted' (Gill used 'Warranted Never to Fail"). It seems Osborn often used the warranted word alone, not sure on Wooley.

5th January 2021, 12:07 AM	#5
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	I would assume a warranted sword would rarely be warranted. If the blade broke during battle slim chance of you surviving. A good looking sword!