Osborn's G Stamp

Hotspur · 23rd January 2022, 05:39 PM

I've been meaning to add this one, also sold by Shiloh Relics back in 2020. A blade marked with O and G and something else. Looks like an 1803 type blade on a Bolton type slotted hilt eagle pommel.

Cheers
GC

Bryce · 23rd January 2022, 09:29 PM

G'day GC,
Thanks for posting this. The first stamp could be an O or maybe another G? Not sure what the other mark is.
I have discovered that prior to 1796, Henry Osborn was marking his blades with a crown over HO mark. Thanks to Henry Yallop, I know the royal armouries has several swords which have the crown HO mark on the ricasso and H Osborn stamped on the tang. These markings are found on swords of the type shown in the middle of the photo below. I also have an early 1796 LC officer's sabre with what looks like the same crown stamp low on the ricasso and have seen another 1796LC with a crown HO stamp. This leads me to believe that the change from the crown HO stamp to the G stamp occurred around 1796.
Cheers,
Bryce

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 10:01 PM

the mystery deepens

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 10:13 PM

G. For Galle Ceylon,

the G mark was done like the Dutch company office marks?

British took over about the time frame in question.

JoeCanada42 · 26th February 2023, 06:35 PM

some coins, with G, with and without serif, seen some with S, some with I, some with number 12....

Bryce · 26th February 2023, 11:00 PM

G'day Joe,
Way outside my area of expertise, but the G on the Dutch klewang blade? you posted is part of a larger marking and unrelated to the G stamp used by Osborn. Hope someone else can shed some light on the use of the letters on the VOC coins.
Cheers,
Bryce

JoeCanada42 · 27th February 2023, 01:09 AM

well the letter marks on the coins are from the mint locations that is explained.
the Dutch letter marks were otherwise associated with Dutch offices in the companies colonies. I will find the info I found and post it....

as for the sword I posted a Dutch Klewang?!, thanks for that bit of info,
but isn't it a bit atypical ?, id say more Mandau then Dutch, certainly a hybrid of a sort, the handle and tip being Mandau style...

the other marks with my G what do you think they were for or associated with? could they not be added or inscribed earlier?

I'm not necessarily saying the G on my sword is an Osborn mark, but I wont rule it out.
I am postulating it is an acquisition mark, British company bought out the bankrupt Dutch and sent stock home for sale?
or maybe swords made by Osborn intended for officers stationed in Galle received this mark. ?

when did the origin of the Klewang style start? and with who?

the G is exactly the same as the Osborn marks,, but not the coins,

And maybe Osborn had a reason or desire to make a klewang / mandau style sword blade?
one theory I have supports yours but implies my blade to be older , the other kind of says its not really a G associated with Osborn but with Galle. I'm thinking most likely as acquisition mark not export destination.

23rd January 2022, 05:39 PM	#1
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 508	I've been meaning to add this one, also sold by Shiloh Relics back in 2020. A blade marked with O and G and something else. Looks like an 1803 type blade on a Bolton type slotted hilt eagle pommel. Cheers GC Attached Images

23rd January 2022, 09:29 PM	#2
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 187	G'day GC, Thanks for posting this. The first stamp could be an O or maybe another G? Not sure what the other mark is. I have discovered that prior to 1796, Henry Osborn was marking his blades with a crown over HO mark. Thanks to Henry Yallop, I know the royal armouries has several swords which have the crown HO mark on the ricasso and H Osborn stamped on the tang. These markings are found on swords of the type shown in the middle of the photo below. I also have an early 1796 LC officer's sabre with what looks like the same crown stamp low on the ricasso and have seen another 1796LC with a crown HO stamp. This leads me to believe that the change from the crown HO stamp to the G stamp occurred around 1796. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

25th February 2023, 10:01 PM	#3
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	the mystery deepens Attached Images

26th February 2023, 06:35 PM	#5
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	some coins, with G, with and without serif, seen some with S, some with I, some with number 12.... Attached Images

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25th February 2023, 10:13 PM	#4
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	G. For Galle Ceylon, the G mark was done like the Dutch company office marks? British took over about the time frame in question.

26th February 2023, 11:00 PM	#6
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 187	G'day Joe, Way outside my area of expertise, but the G on the Dutch klewang blade? you posted is part of a larger marking and unrelated to the G stamp used by Osborn. Hope someone else can shed some light on the use of the letters on the VOC coins. Cheers, Bryce

27th February 2023, 01:09 AM	#7
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	well the letter marks on the coins are from the mint locations that is explained. the Dutch letter marks were otherwise associated with Dutch offices in the companies colonies. I will find the info I found and post it.... as for the sword I posted a Dutch Klewang?!, thanks for that bit of info, but isn't it a bit atypical ?, id say more Mandau then Dutch, certainly a hybrid of a sort, the handle and tip being Mandau style... the other marks with my G what do you think they were for or associated with? could they not be added or inscribed earlier? I'm not necessarily saying the G on my sword is an Osborn mark, but I wont rule it out. I am postulating it is an acquisition mark, British company bought out the bankrupt Dutch and sent stock home for sale? or maybe swords made by Osborn intended for officers stationed in Galle received this mark. ? when did the origin of the Klewang style start? and with who? the G is exactly the same as the Osborn marks,, but not the coins, And maybe Osborn had a reason or desire to make a klewang / mandau style sword blade? one theory I have supports yours but implies my blade to be older , the other kind of says its not really a G associated with Osborn but with Galle. I'm thinking most likely as acquisition mark not export destination.