Basket hilted swords

Cathey · 30th April 2015, 05:20 AM

Thank you Mark for re-posting your sword, the variety of markings is most interesting. I have never seen punch marks like this before. I do have a sword where previous engraving has been obscured by punch marks, but nothing quite like this.

The sword I refer to is:
Brass hilted Highland Officer’s Basket Hilt
Date: Pattern 1798
Nationality: British – Scottish Regiment
Overall Length: 94.8 cm (37.3 inches)
Blade length: 80.6 cm (31.7 inches)
Blade widest point: 2.985 cm (1.2 inches)
Hilt widest point: 13.4 cm (5.3 inches)
Inside grip length: 10.3 cm (4.1 inches)
Marks, etc: Marked with a crown GR DRURY, stamped near the hilt are the letters EC with 6 small stars. The stars appear to have been applied to strike out other letters. These letters look like R.I.I.J.I.R?

Description
1798 Pattern Highland infantry officer's backsword; the type carried by Scottish infantry regiments during the Peninsula War and Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon's forces. The single fullered blade is marked with a crown GR DRURY, stamped near the hilt are the letters EC with 6 small stars. The hilt is brass hilt is constructed of solid plain panels and has remnants of past gilding. The grip is fish skin with brass wire.

General Remarks
The 1798 Pattern was the first attempt by the British to standardize sword patterns for the Scottish regiments and was very loose in some respects, with blades coming from Solingen (Prussia / Germany), England and Scotland, clearly with officers mounting the blades from their existing pre-pattern swords. The brass hilt is fundamentally weaker than steel hilts, hence the pattern is rare as the hilts suffered terribly over time.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

Cathey · 30th April 2015, 05:27 AM

Hi Eljay and Cornelistromp

These Dutch baskets are so intricate in design, I had no idea such variety existed and can honestly say I have never had the pleasure of seeing one in the flesh. Any idea what the name of the book is, the pictures in it look like a valuable reference source.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

E.B. Erickson · 1st May 2015, 12:20 PM

Corneliustromp,
Thanks for the discussion and additional photos of the Dutch basket. Would I be correct in assuming that these are a fairly rare sword?

--ElJay

E.B. Erickson · 1st May 2015, 12:23 PM

Cathey,
On your 1798 basket, can you make out the letters that have been punched over?

Cathey · 3rd May 2015, 06:34 AM

Hi Eljay

We am sitting in a apartment in Melbourne having just come back from an auction much poorer than when we arrived. Picked up a nice basket hilt which I will post latter.

Now I can't make out the punch marks but have attached some close up pictures. When I get back to Adelaide I will get out a magnifying glass and see if I can make them out.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

30th April 2015, 05:20 AM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Brass hilted Basket Hilt Backsword Thank you Mark for re-posting your sword, the variety of markings is most interesting. I have never seen punch marks like this before. I do have a sword where previous engraving has been obscured by punch marks, but nothing quite like this. The sword I refer to is: Brass hilted Highland Officer’s Basket Hilt Date: Pattern 1798 Nationality: British – Scottish Regiment Overall Length: 94.8 cm (37.3 inches) Blade length: 80.6 cm (31.7 inches) Blade widest point: 2.985 cm (1.2 inches) Hilt widest point: 13.4 cm (5.3 inches) Inside grip length: 10.3 cm (4.1 inches) Marks, etc: Marked with a crown GR DRURY, stamped near the hilt are the letters EC with 6 small stars. The stars appear to have been applied to strike out other letters. These letters look like R.I.I.J.I.R? Description 1798 Pattern Highland infantry officer's backsword; the type carried by Scottish infantry regiments during the Peninsula War and Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon's forces. The single fullered blade is marked with a crown GR DRURY, stamped near the hilt are the letters EC with 6 small stars. The hilt is brass hilt is constructed of solid plain panels and has remnants of past gilding. The grip is fish skin with brass wire. General Remarks The 1798 Pattern was the first attempt by the British to standardize sword patterns for the Scottish regiments and was very loose in some respects, with blades coming from Solingen (Prussia / Germany), England and Scotland, clearly with officers mounting the blades from their existing pre-pattern swords. The brass hilt is fundamentally weaker than steel hilts, hence the pattern is rare as the hilts suffered terribly over time. Cheers Cathey and Rex Attached Images

30th April 2015, 05:27 AM	#2
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Dutch Baskets Hi Eljay and Cornelistromp These Dutch baskets are so intricate in design, I had no idea such variety existed and can honestly say I have never had the pleasure of seeing one in the flesh. Any idea what the name of the book is, the pictures in it look like a valuable reference source. Cheers Cathey and Rex

3rd May 2015, 06:34 AM	#5
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Punched out markings Hi Eljay We am sitting in a apartment in Melbourne having just come back from an auction much poorer than when we arrived. Picked up a nice basket hilt which I will post latter. Now I can't make out the punch marks but have attached some close up pictures. When I get back to Adelaide I will get out a magnifying glass and see if I can make them out. Cheers Cathey and Rex Attached Images

1st May 2015, 12:20 PM	#3
E.B. Erickson Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 61	Corneliustromp, Thanks for the discussion and additional photos of the Dutch basket. Would I be correct in assuming that these are a fairly rare sword? --ElJay

1st May 2015, 12:23 PM	#4
E.B. Erickson Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 61	Cathey, On your 1798 basket, can you make out the letters that have been punched over?