British Infantry Dress Sabre 18th Regt of What?

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Cathey

Hi Guys

With the help of a friend we have re-examined the hilt of this sword and now believe it to be Bone not Ivory. Another friend has reminded me that not everything included in print is accurate so I am still looking for another reference besides Martyn to a sword like this with some hope of nailing the band sword question and perhaps regiment down with more certainty.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

The similar picture which I supplied in my earlier reply above was from Robson 'Swords of the British Army' . So I would ID this as a Cavalry Levee sword rather than a band sword and so would go with the 18th as being the 18th Light Dragoons ( formed 1763 ) ... which became the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in 1910 .

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by thinreadline

The similar picture which I supplied in my earlier reply above was from Robson 'Swords of the British Army' . So I would ID this as a Cavalry Levee sword rather than a band sword and so would go with the 18th as being the 18th Light Dragoons 1763 ( which became the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in 1910 ) .

The entry relating to this regiment in Hallows excellent book ...

[Cathey]

Hi Threadline

Whilst I would love to think that this is a Cavalry Levee sword rather than a band sword and go with the 18th as being the 18th Light Dragoons, I am stuck on a comment about officers not putting the regiment on the scabbard. My other concern is that if this were an Officer Levee sword, it is unlikely that it would have a plain blade.

However, that being said I would be more than happy if your ID is actually correct, any thoughts out there.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Cathey

Hi Threadline

Whilst I would love to think that this is a Cavalry Levee sword rather than a band sword and go with the 18th as being the 18th Light Dragoons, I am stuck on a comment about officers not putting the regiment on the scabbard. My other concern is that if this were an Officer Levee sword, it is unlikely that it would have a plain blade.

However, that being said I would be more than happy if your ID is actually correct, any thoughts out there.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

These are very good points Cathey and I have to admit I tend to agree with your reasoning ..... I shall endeavour to do some more research on this one.

[Jim McDougall]

I have a lionhead British band sword c. 1820s
The thing is that band sabres seem to have full brass scabbards, and mine is marked 2D and a number. ...2nd dragoons....full brass scabbard.

[Richard G]

Cathey,
To sum up, I think this is unlikely to be an officers sword, the blade is plain, the grip is bone, not ivory and it is marked to a regiment and not an individual. At 27in the blade is too short to be a 'fighting' sword, but in many respects it seems to lack the decoration I would expect on a levee sword. Officers may have had their swords marked to their regiment, but I think not in such a simple, 'off-hand', manner.
I think it is unlikely to be the 18th Hussars for the simple reason there were none between 1821 and 1861 which, stylistically, is the period of this sword.
The 18th Foot is a possibility, I was worried about the bone grip, which looks rather ill fitted, but I found this regiment spent most of this period on overseas service, so, anomalies not normally expected in a British sword are possible.
A 27inch blade is consistent with a band sword, whether or not the 18th foot carried a band with them I do not know.
There were a couple of '18th's in the Indian Army but they seem not to have been known as 'Regiment' but 'Native Infantry' etc.
We don't know for certain, but assuming this is genuinely old, a sword for ceremonial use, e.g. a band, belonging to the 18th Regiment of Foot seems to me the most likely attribution.
Regards
Richard

[thinreadline]

Here is a similar sword from Robson 'Swords of the British Army' . It is described as 'mameluke' style. This seems to confirm the band sword ID .