GARDEN & SON - ROBt. S. GARDEN

Jim McDougall · 19th March 2026, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will M

Hi Jim, my "guess" that the numbers are just a control number for Garden.
I have a infantry sword with brass scabbard marked Garden with number 405 on the blade spine. Blade is etched with the officers initials RH but I've not found the name. It is a patent hilt and has Garden name etch with 29 Picedilly and Garden stamped on the blade spine.
The VR in the guard appears to be shot out. Possibly an interesting story behind it?

Thanks Will! This is great and I think your idea of it being some sort of control number makes sense.
It seems odd that they would go to the trouble of stamping these numbers into the blade spine. Was it record keeping? and they kept records of swords sold to officers and clients?
While my example seems to be a troopers, rather than officers sword, as it is completely austere, no decoration or proof plug etc. perhaps it was that officers bought regular troopers swords as 'fighting' swords. It would seem they might defer taking their expensive and fancier dress and other swords on campaign .........though I think obviously there were exceptions.
Officers had carte blanch on most things, so it would seem possible.

Right you are on the shot out VR in the hilt! Definitely a story there!

Jim McDougall · 19th March 2026, 04:19 PM

Magey, thank you for the interesting links and info.
It is most interesting to think of this firm tailored to the adventurers, explorers and dynamic characters of the times in 19th century Great Britain, and makes sense. While obviously they did supply swords and guns to officers, it seems the primary clientele were aligned with many of the irregular units in the Raj.
As these were basically private units aligned with the East India Company in the years prior to the Mutiny, the demographic of the men would seem to correspond to 'adventurers', who were not military but functioned well in para-military contexts.

It seems most of the guns, swords associated with units of the Scinde Irregular Cavalry, and Poonah Horse, are most regularly seen. I have always thought the Howdah pistols were pretty fascinating, as well as the Jacob's rifle, which was invented by Brig.Gen. John Jacob EIC. He was with the Scinde Horse, and created this powerful rifle which was accurate for miles and with exploding rounds in one barrel. These were often termed 'elephant rifles'.
They were made by Swinburne and several others, not sure if Garden ever handled them.

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19th March 2026, 04:19 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,851	Magey, thank you for the interesting links and info. It is most interesting to think of this firm tailored to the adventurers, explorers and dynamic characters of the times in 19th century Great Britain, and makes sense. While obviously they did supply swords and guns to officers, it seems the primary clientele were aligned with many of the irregular units in the Raj. As these were basically private units aligned with the East India Company in the years prior to the Mutiny, the demographic of the men would seem to correspond to 'adventurers', who were not military but functioned well in para-military contexts. It seems most of the guns, swords associated with units of the Scinde Irregular Cavalry, and Poonah Horse, are most regularly seen. I have always thought the Howdah pistols were pretty fascinating, as well as the Jacob's rifle, which was invented by Brig.Gen. John Jacob EIC. He was with the Scinde Horse, and created this powerful rifle which was accurate for miles and with exploding rounds in one barrel. These were often termed 'elephant rifles'. They were made by Swinburne and several others, not sure if Garden ever handled them.