British Infantry Officers Battle Swords in the 19th C...and up to 1914

Bryce · 27th October 2025, 03:45 AM

G'day Peter,
I don't have a Scinde cavalry sword in my collection, but I do have the 4th Light Dragoons pattern sword of Alexander Low. Some of the decoration on this hilt is similar to the Scinde pattern. Low ordered this sword with a custom hilt and Toledo blade from Henry Wilkinson on his return from the Crimean War, having survived the charge of the light brigade.
Cheers,
Bryce

Peter Hudson · 27th October 2025, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce

G'day Peter,
I don't have a Scinde cavalry sword in my collection, but I do have the 4th Light Dragoons pattern sword of Alexander Low. Some of the decoration on this hilt is similar to the Scinde pattern. Low ordered this sword with a custom hilt and Toledo blade from Henry Wilkinson on his return from the Crimean War, having survived the charge of the light brigade.
Cheers,
Bryce

Hello Bryce, Oh I thought this was a Scinde Cavalry Sword, I have to say its a superb piece... Thanks for showing this.
Peter Hudson.

Peter Hudson · 27th October 2025, 06:12 AM

One thing I like to feed in are good videos on all things antique weaponry... especially in this case on Swords..Please do hit the buttons and view these as they are very well placed for easy viewing and are excellent for information...I use the Matt Easton videos which I find very good so expect a few of these to turn up ... Matt has an extensive range of the 19thC.British Sword variety thus I will feature his work a lot..

Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJm6OBHZcxs

Peter Hudson.

Will M · 27th October 2025, 02:26 PM

Here is a Scinde cavalry sword, a Wilkinson made in 1856. Maj W.T. Johnson. He used this sword while charging a rebel gun. The first photo the sword is over a 1796 trooper sword to compare blade curvature that looks to be the same.

Peter Hudson · 27th October 2025, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will M

Here is a Scinde cavalry sword, a Wilkinson made in 1856. Maj W.T. Johnson. He used this sword while charging a rebel gun. The first photo the sword is over a 1796 trooper sword to compare blade curvature that looks to be the same.

Hello Will,
Interesting seeing it lined up with the`1796 and I imagine how that would have been used against Tulvars and the like. The floral design looks amazing and was apparently from Icanthus leaf designs. This was a great Officer and the Sword and battle Honours you present with it are great to see...
Regards,
Peter Hudson.

toaster5sqn · 27th October 2025, 08:26 PM

The cut vs thrust debate raged for a century until they attempted to settle it scientifically.
Consulting military doctors it was noted that men arriving in field hospitals with stab wounds most often perished of them while those with cuts could usually be saved. This led to the obvious conclusion that the thrust was deadlier than the cut and swords were designed accordingly.
All in all a classic example of survivor bias, all they proved was that those suffering fatal stab wounds were more likely to live long enough to reach hospital.

Robert

27th October 2025, 03:45 AM	#1
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 198	G'day Peter, I don't have a Scinde cavalry sword in my collection, but I do have the 4th Light Dragoons pattern sword of Alexander Low. Some of the decoration on this hilt is similar to the Scinde pattern. Low ordered this sword with a custom hilt and Toledo blade from Henry Wilkinson on his return from the Crimean War, having survived the charge of the light brigade. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

27th October 2025, 06:12 AM	#3
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 348	Videos. One thing I like to feed in are good videos on all things antique weaponry... especially in this case on Swords..Please do hit the buttons and view these as they are very well placed for easy viewing and are excellent for information...I use the Matt Easton videos which I find very good so expect a few of these to turn up ... Matt has an extensive range of the 19thC.British Sword variety thus I will feature his work a lot.. Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJm6OBHZcxs Peter Hudson.

27th October 2025, 02:26 PM	#4
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 423	Here is a Scinde cavalry sword, a Wilkinson made in 1856. Maj W.T. Johnson. He used this sword while charging a rebel gun. The first photo the sword is over a 1796 trooper sword to compare blade curvature that looks to be the same. Attached Images

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27th October 2025, 08:26 PM	#6
toaster5sqn Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: New Zealand Posts: 87	The cut vs thrust debate raged for a century until they attempted to settle it scientifically. Consulting military doctors it was noted that men arriving in field hospitals with stab wounds most often perished of them while those with cuts could usually be saved. This led to the obvious conclusion that the thrust was deadlier than the cut and swords were designed accordingly. All in all a classic example of survivor bias, all they proved was that those suffering fatal stab wounds were more likely to live long enough to reach hospital. Robert