British or Indo Persian Blade?

Madnumforce · 10th August 2018, 10:24 PM

I don't have any expertise, but I'm curious.
Having a plain, unfullered blade strikes me as a rather unusual feature on a light cavalry saber. Was it more common than I thought?
Also, the hilt has many French-like features: the narrow "ears", the "rolled" backstrap with brazed pommel plate, the three nails, etc...

Bryce · 11th August 2018, 11:09 PM

Thanks for your input on crucible steel GC. Are you sure that is the right link? It takes me to a link on scabbards?

G'day Madnumforce, plain unfullered blades were a lot less common than fullered blades, but not unusual. They seem much more common after the Egyptian campaign of 1801 than the period 1788 - 1796 when this sword was likely made. Below is an example of a British sword with a similar unfullered blade made circa 1810-20. What is unusual about this blade is that it has the long ricasso found on Indian blades, slightly rounded back edge compared to typically flat for British swords, and much less distal taper than usual. This results in a very blade heavy sword with the point of balance far from the hilt. This is not typical for a British sword of this period.

John St Leger was a very "flashy" officer and I would have thought that if he wanted an Eastern style blade, he would have procured an authentic wootz example rather than had Thomas Gill make him a copy. However, it is unlikely that Thomas Gill would have put his name on the blade if he was simply rehilting an older blade. Usually he would have put his name on the scabbard mounts instead.

Below is a portrait of St Leger, commissioned by the Prince of Wales, before this sword would have been made.

Cheers,
Bryce

Hotspur · 12th August 2018, 05:21 AM

https://www.westyorkssteel.com/blog/...amin-huntsman/

Bryce · 20th September 2018, 06:25 AM

G'day Guys,

I test etched a small window on this blade and there is no sign of a pattern, so it is a british copy of an Indian blade made by Thomas Gill.

Cheers,

Bryce

11th August 2018, 11:09 PM	#2
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	Thanks for your input on crucible steel GC. Are you sure that is the right link? It takes me to a link on scabbards? G'day Madnumforce, plain unfullered blades were a lot less common than fullered blades, but not unusual. They seem much more common after the Egyptian campaign of 1801 than the period 1788 - 1796 when this sword was likely made. Below is an example of a British sword with a similar unfullered blade made circa 1810-20. What is unusual about this blade is that it has the long ricasso found on Indian blades, slightly rounded back edge compared to typically flat for British swords, and much less distal taper than usual. This results in a very blade heavy sword with the point of balance far from the hilt. This is not typical for a British sword of this period. John St Leger was a very "flashy" officer and I would have thought that if he wanted an Eastern style blade, he would have procured an authentic wootz example rather than had Thomas Gill make him a copy. However, it is unlikely that Thomas Gill would have put his name on the blade if he was simply rehilting an older blade. Usually he would have put his name on the scabbard mounts instead. Below is a portrait of St Leger, commissioned by the Prince of Wales, before this sword would have been made. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

10th August 2018, 10:24 PM	#1
Madnumforce Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 28	I don't have any expertise, but I'm curious. Having a plain, unfullered blade strikes me as a rather unusual feature on a light cavalry saber. Was it more common than I thought? Also, the hilt has many French-like features: the narrow "ears", the "rolled" backstrap with brazed pommel plate, the three nails, etc...

12th August 2018, 05:21 AM	#3
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 514	https://www.westyorkssteel.com/blog/...amin-huntsman/

20th September 2018, 06:25 AM	#4
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	G'day Guys, I test etched a small window on this blade and there is no sign of a pattern, so it is a british copy of an Indian blade made by Thomas Gill. Cheers, Bryce