Kampilan marked "London 1762"

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Bill,
browsing the web..... Robert Wilkinson-Latham mentions that sometimes numbers stamped on the blades were the firms order numbers ....manufacturers mentioned are Robert Gieves of Gieves, Hawkes, Mole, and Reeves.

Regards

Hi David,
Robert's note is of course correct, but as far as I know, the few instances were with the makers stamp on the back of the blade near the hilt. One example I have seen of a British M1829 light cavalry sabre was stamped with Reeves &Co. with the numbers 111 in that location. I dont recall where Wilkinson stamped their numbers, which, contrary to other firms, were recorded. I believe it was also on the blade back. I dont know of any Mole examples with numbers, though the stamp was at the same location. Mole was primarily a Wilkinson subcontractor I understand, and later was absorbed into the firm about the 1920's.

All the best,
Jim