Pommel Ring on British Dragoon Swords 18th c.

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thanks very much.............turns out all I have at the moment is Bezdek, my Robson is the old one (1975, which is about beat to death as I've had it since then); Wilkinson-Latham I have but not here.

British Military Swords - John Wilkinson Latham:


Swords of the British Army - Brian Robson:
Pg. 109 Plate 92. Hourse Grenadier Guards


Pg. 179 Plate 167. Grenadier Company Officers basket hilt


Pg. 190 Plate 183. Broadsword, Sergents, 42nd Foot


Pg. 194 Plates 187 and 188


Apologies that I clipped the description on 188; that's what happens first thing in the morning.

The 1798 Pattern Highland Regiment officers' swords are interesting because the ring pommel appears to be used regularly as part of that pattern. Probably not exactly what you're after, but it shows that the design continued to be used on basket hilts after it disappeared from other swords.

Looking at the examples, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the form is a hangover from basket-hilted swords, which remained as the cavalry officers' hilt form changed in the mid-18th century and finally fell out of use with the advent of pattern swords with a solid backstrap in 1796.

Of course, with all things of the period, there will be exceptions, but the popularity of a solid backstrap likely was the end of the 'pommel ring' for cavalry officers' swords.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much for posting these!
Well observed on the solid backstrap terminus.
I think what we see here is the transitory situation, and all great examples of that.

The one from Wilkinson-Latham (45) is indeed identified as c.1780 dragoon officers sword and appears in Blair as noted. I recall getting this around '78, and it had a brass hilt. I was surprised in seeing other examples being steel rather than brass. There never seemed to be a consensus on what these were...in a rather bizarre note Stone (1934) has one of these among several other swords and listed as Italian! ?
I no longer have it, wish I still did.