Need help with research

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by gp

Tatham I could find this :

so it seems to be the name of a maker probably made or destined for the African market....

Thank you so much, Gunar! Yes, you are absolutely right.

Apparently, based on the experience of the Lyon G. expedition in 1818-20 and the first Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney expedition of 1822-1824, when the rulers of the Caliphates were forced to give simple sabres, which, incidentally, were extremely rare in the Sahel and highly prized.

For the second expedition, African-style swords were ordered and made as gifts, but apparently in limited quantities. The sultans of Kiama and Bussa received gifts, while lower-ranking sultans were given simple and short sabres; some were refused altogether, despite persistent requests and demands.

[gp]

you're welcome my friend!

Some more on him:

https://www.internetgunclub.com/hd/h...urrentpage=113

https://www.saxonlodge.net/getperson...90&tree=Tatham

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/ob...=Tatham%2C%20H.

https://www.tumblr.com/victorianswor...cers-sword-for

https://www.olympiaauctions.com/auct...lot=17825&sd=1

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surn...ics/tatham/46/

who also made fire arms:

https://www.sworder.co.uk/auction/lo...ot=515017&sd=1

https://www.flintlockcollection.net/henry-tatham/


BRITISH 1804/14 NAVAL SEAMAN’S CUTLASS

IN 1804, AN OFFICIAL PATTERN OF CUTLASS was ordered by the Board of Ordnance. This was the famous “figure-of-eight” or double disc-hilted cutlass, and is probably the cutlass most commonly associated with Royal Navy seaman during the Napoleonic Wars. The cutlass was designed by Henry Osborn of Birmingham and initially cost 4 shillings and tenpence each (the cost of adding a leather and brass-mounted scabbard was 2/3d). According to Annis and May (Swords for Sea Service, page 79), the Board of Ordnance later claimed that the design of the sword had been a joint venture between Osborn and Lord Horatio Nelson but subsequent research has indicated that they had confused the name with a certain R.A. Nelson who was Secretary to the Navy Board at that time. Henry Osborn had the lion’s share of the initial order with 3,000 ordered from the Birmingham sword cutler with equal orders of 1,750 each shared between the following sword makers – Woolley and Co., Craven and Co., Thomas Hadley and Samuel Dawes.

Subsequent orders were placed in 1808, 1810 and in 1814, the Board of Ordnance approached the London sword maker, Tatham and Egg, and asked them to provide two new pattern cutlasses. The changes required consisted of alterations to the guard, curvature of the blade and the replacement of a rounded back to the blade with a flatback profile. It does not appear that these new patterns of cutlasses went much further than the developmental stage and the Board of Ordnance were not happy about the prices quoted by the makers so few found their way into service.

© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024

Taken from The British Sword – From 1600 to the Present Day – An Illustrated History by Harvey J S Withers – 12,000 full colour photographs – 884 pages

[Pertinax]

Thanks, Gunnar, we've sorted out the first question.
Now it's time to figure out the second.

[Ian]

Pertinax,

I performed a web search for the first few words of your article, "Brittany voyage iron," which seemed an unusual phrase and one that might be successful in finding this text. while I did not find an exact match, it did yield a recent article by Evans and Ryden (2018) that describes "voyage iron" and its use as currency in Africa. The involvement of the Province of Brittany is described by them: "Jean Barbot spoke of the ‘Province of Brittany’ as the source of the iron exported by the Compagnie du Senegal in the 1690s (ref. 28)"

The reference they cite (ref. 28) is Awnsham Churchill, A Collection of Voyages and Travels, 6 vols. (London, 1732), Volume 1, pp. 44–45. The page numbers do not match your example, however the Evans and Ryden article is a recent summary of "voyage iron" and it may provide the reference that you are looking for. I have attached a PDF file of their article which was a freely available download. Hope this helps.

Regards, Ian
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