The British Broad Arrow Mark

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by adrian

Does anyone know when the broad arrow was first used on weapons to signify government ownership?

During the reign of of Queen Anne, the Rose and Crown mark was replaced by the Crown and Crossed Sceptres mark, and the Royal Cypher had a broad arrow added underneath. (Ref H.L. Blackmore, "British Military Firearms 1650-1850". p265.) So it seems accepted that the arrow appears of firearms from the very early 1700's. In "The Brown Bess" by Goldstein & Mowbray they depict a style of early crowned arrow stamp used from from 1706-11.

I have a heavily restored musket of King William's reign, it has a no arrows at all and a paper written by David Williams "The Flintlock Ordnance Muskets of William III and their Supply" includes a description of their markings (ten muskets were used for his study) and there is no mention of an arrow used to lock, stock or barrel. King William III died in 1702 & his wife Ann became queen, this supports the evidence that the arrow appears, on firearms, during Queen Ann's reign.

Excellent entry Adrian!!! We crossed posts

[CutlassCollector]

That's great info guys. Obviously my knowledge of firearms is limited so thanks Corrado and Fernando for the pistol markings. The crown and cypher are obviously not necessarily exclusive of the broad arrow.

And great cannon ball Will.

CC

[CutlassCollector]

And thanks Jim and Adrian for your great research that really pushes the date back for firearms to the early 1700s and still earlier for general use. That pretty much agrees with Corrado's estimate.

Nice screw Fernando! Apparently the British government even marked trees with the broad arrow in North America which were suitable for masts and claimed for government use. No doubt indicating to the colonists which ones they would get the most enjoyment out of cutting down for firewood.

[CutlassCollector]

Fernando K and Will - yes according to Wiki it does seem to be a stylised representation of a metal arrow head. The symbol pointing down is used in English heraldry. And I guess the link may well be the royal sport of deer hunting.


Does anyone have any swords marked with the arrow?

Regards,
David.

[scinde]

Hi Cutlass Collector,

During the first half of the 19th Century, swords acquired by the E.I.Co were purchased direct from makers or merchants, and in general terms, I believe Jim is correct when he said they were not identified with a "bale Mark" as such however, they were inspected and marked accordingly.

The main *change occurred circa 1855-56, after which swords purchased by the E.I.Co, were acquired via the British War Department; and at which point in time the "I" over Broad Arrow mark came into vogue.

Probably? the earliest, but certainly the most commonly found use of this mark, is on swords made during the period of the Indian Mutiny for Bengal European Cavalry; thus this mark can definitely be found on E.I.Co swords for as long as the company survived, say from circa *1856 through to 1858.

Then came The Government of India Act of 1858, the demise of the E.I.Co, the somewhat dramatic post mutiny reforms and the creation of the Queens Indian Army.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

Fernando K and Will - yes according to Wiki it does seem to be a stylised representation of a metal arrow head. The symbol pointing down is used in English heraldry. And I guess the link may well be the royal sport of deer hunting.


Does anyone have any swords marked with the arrow?

Regards,
David.

There are some tenuous suggestions of the 'arrow' relating to heraldry etc. but such are matters with arms lore.
I have continued looking into the artillery factions of ordnance, and have found numerous examples with the BO and arrow on various types of cannon of 17th c. Apparently the Board of ordnance did an inventory in 1698 in which control numbers were placed on the guns. There were BO arrow marks on many and just how old many were at this time is unclear.

As noted, while firearms for government use were controlled by the Board of ordnance, swords for rank and file were privately purchased by the colonels of the regiments and not marked as government property (thus no BO arrow). Proof and view marks were present however and often, if not typically, the swords were regimentally marked.

I know that many years ago in my collecting I also wondered about the BOarrow as far as on swords, but seems they were not so marked. I also wondered about the EIC balemark on swords, but found they were not either.

The exception for EIC was for officers, who often had hilts and blade inscriptions on their privately commissioned swords.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

...

Does anyone have any swords marked with the arrow?

Regards,
David.

Just my 1804 spectacle cutlass it has the broad arrow halfway down the blade as it's only mark, and a reverse arrow almost touching the two points together as it's only marks. (this indicates it was sold out of service as surplus. that is, Govt. ownership cancelled).