1821 Variation for an Indian Officer Circa 1837?

Richard G · 21st October 2012, 02:24 PM

My opinion, and it is only an opinion, is that this is a British sword from the 1820's - 1830's. However, the script is a problem. It appears to be decorative only, and for this reason I have doubts it has ever had much to do with the HEIC. The HEIC recruited it's officers from the educated classes in GB and put them through military type colleges in England, for 2 - 4 years , including the study of Indian languages, before they set foot in India. They could not be an officer in an HEIC regiment unless they spoke the lingua franca of that regiment. It seems unlikely an officer would risk ridicule by turning up with gibberish on his sword.
I think it more likely this was made for an officer in a volunteer or miltia unit, possibly one seeking association with a regiment that had Indian traditions, e.g. an Edinburgh unit associating themselves with the Royal Scots (1st Foot) which reurned to Scotland in 1830 after 10 years service in India.

Just my thoughts, and all wrong if this does turn out to be script!

Regards
Richard

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21st October 2012, 02:24 PM	#6
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	My opinion, and it is only an opinion, is that this is a British sword from the 1820's - 1830's. However, the script is a problem. It appears to be decorative only, and for this reason I have doubts it has ever had much to do with the HEIC. The HEIC recruited it's officers from the educated classes in GB and put them through military type colleges in England, for 2 - 4 years , including the study of Indian languages, before they set foot in India. They could not be an officer in an HEIC regiment unless they spoke the lingua franca of that regiment. It seems unlikely an officer would risk ridicule by turning up with gibberish on his sword. I think it more likely this was made for an officer in a volunteer or miltia unit, possibly one seeking association with a regiment that had Indian traditions, e.g. an Edinburgh unit associating themselves with the Royal Scots (1st Foot) which reurned to Scotland in 1830 after 10 years service in India. Just my thoughts, and all wrong if this does turn out to be script! Regards Richard