Anglo-Indian army swords

G. Mansfield · 10th November 2023, 08:59 PM

Adding another example that recently came my way. 1796 pattern style blade with 1821 pattern three-bar guard. Unfortunately, no maker markings or dates on the hilt or blade. Looks to have some age and quite robust and heavy. Certainly, a fighter!
Blade Length: 33” (83,9cm)
Hilt & Blade Length: 38 ¾” (98,4cm)

-Geoffrey

Jim McDougall · 10th November 2023, 10:10 PM

Geoffrey! Thank you for reviving this thread, and so glad you're still at it with the 'swords of the Raj'

It seems we are a limited bunch as this area of collecting and study is not widely brought up.

What a great example of these 'colonial' sabers (as Wagner, "Cut & Thrust Weapons", 1967 calls them).
It seems that these 'Paget Pattern" #6480 (Wilkinson, but Mole produced many for them) were in 31 1/2" blades for Madras and Bombay forces; while the 33" were deemed for Bengal.

By those facts, very possible this might have been for a Bengal cavalry regiment, thus a good chance for lancers.

My example (by Mole) is marked to 21C, from 1904 called "Daly's Horse" but a unit of Frontier Force. Pretty exciting history of all these cavalry regiments of the Raj.

No idea what the numbers below 21C mean, there were so any number combinations with administrative coding.

G. Mansfield · 21st November 2023, 05:59 PM

Hi Jim, thank you for the information! I did not know of the designations for differentiating blade lengths and the possible associated with the Bengal forces with the 33” size. Your example is very similar and you’re lucky to have stampings attributed to the 21st calvary, a nice slice of history provenance. I will provide a few links that I have found if anybody is interested in some more information. The first: the Imperial War Museum, second: Australian War Memorial, and third: a brief Youtube video of the history and description of the type.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30001638
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C226996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=k92PstHFQRM

-Geoffrey

10th November 2023, 08:59 PM	#1
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 82	Adding another example that recently came my way. 1796 pattern style blade with 1821 pattern three-bar guard. Unfortunately, no maker markings or dates on the hilt or blade. Looks to have some age and quite robust and heavy. Certainly, a fighter! Blade Length: 33” (83,9cm) Hilt & Blade Length: 38 ¾” (98,4cm) -Geoffrey Attached Images

10th November 2023, 10:10 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,925	Geoffrey! Thank you for reviving this thread, and so glad you're still at it with the 'swords of the Raj' It seems we are a limited bunch as this area of collecting and study is not widely brought up. What a great example of these 'colonial' sabers (as Wagner, "Cut & Thrust Weapons", 1967 calls them). It seems that these 'Paget Pattern" #6480 (Wilkinson, but Mole produced many for them) were in 31 1/2" blades for Madras and Bombay forces; while the 33" were deemed for Bengal. By those facts, very possible this might have been for a Bengal cavalry regiment, thus a good chance for lancers. My example (by Mole) is marked to 21C, from 1904 called "Daly's Horse" but a unit of Frontier Force. Pretty exciting history of all these cavalry regiments of the Raj. No idea what the numbers below 21C mean, there were so any number combinations with administrative coding. Attached Images

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21st November 2023, 05:59 PM	#3
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 82	Hi Jim, thank you for the information! I did not know of the designations for differentiating blade lengths and the possible associated with the Bengal forces with the 33” size. Your example is very similar and you’re lucky to have stampings attributed to the 21st calvary, a nice slice of history provenance. I will provide a few links that I have found if anybody is interested in some more information. The first: the Imperial War Museum, second: Australian War Memorial, and third: a brief Youtube video of the history and description of the type. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30001638 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C226996 https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=k92PstHFQRM -Geoffrey