Basket-hilted (cage-hilt) sword for discussion

[Peter Hudson]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you for posting this beautiful example Jerry!!! and especially for sharing the professionally presented data from your own research....much appreciated as it establishes a benchmark for continued discussion.

As noted, this type of basket hilt was used by English dragoons from about mid 18th c into the third quarter. It must be remembered of course that these hilts with crossed bar 'cages' were produced in garrison towns in Scotland and likely by various 'slippers' (those mounting blades and fashioning hilts).

As these were independently ordered by the commanding officers of various regiments, it would be expected that while the general style or pattern was followed, there were obvious variations.

In British cavalry of the 18th century, the basket hilt became favored but the backsword (single edged) blade took precedence over the double edged, and by 1740s the double edged broadsword blade was all but phased out.
While I cannot explain pragmatically the reason for this, it seems clear the blade on this example has been altered accordingly.

The blade with flutes at the forte seems aligned with the German broadsword types furnished to Scottish armorers in the 17th century. I am compelled to think this is likely a heirloom blade from an early Scottish basket hilt, likely of the ribbon (beak nose) type now believed as early as 1640s.

As shown in attached illustrations, dragoon basket hilts of this caged form appear to have been associated with 2nd troop Horse Guards (c.1750) and with Gen.Sir Charles Howard (1748-1765) in uniform of 3rd Horse Guards c. 1760.
As always, while these references suggest the period by dates of the art, it must be presumed these type hilts were in use for indefinite time before the art.

First three images: from "Scottish Swords and Dirks", John Wallace, Stackpole, Harrisburg Pa. 1970
Note #20, the ribbon hilt showing the early German blade type...Wallace Coll. (Mann, 1962) shows various makers using this phrase in variation with other marks etc. from Wirsberger c.1620 ; Hoppe 1630s to as late as 1660 in examples A508,604, 640, 645, 653, 701.

The last image from "The British Basket Hilt Cavalry Sword", A.D. Darling, "Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting" Vo. 7, #3, 1974

Hello Jim, Greetings from Northumberland!! ...I refer to your post in particular fig 10a depicting the Bushy Tail Fox in this case without its internal SH usually seen when associated on a Samuel Harvey Birmingham blade and which may be a Shotley Bridge derived stamp. There is something of an impasse considering this mark since it is not clear if Samuel Harvey took over this mark but applied the SH to his version of it whilst the fox may have been previously used at Shotley Bridge ...
Regards, Peter Hudson.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Peter!
WELL and astutely observed, as always!!!
As Keith has determined from the remarkable and well supported research he has done for his book on the Shotley Bridge mysteries of the late 17th century, these 'bushy tail fox' figures seem likely to have begun there.

While it has been generally held that these figures were used by Samuel Harvey of Birmingham c. 1750 (A.D.Darling, 1975) but with his initials SH in the body of the fox to signify the blade as his product, we believe that the mark was appropriated by Harvey, but as noted more proof is of course required. Still this speculation is compelling with the examples of Shotley Bridge blades (so marked) along with the running fox mark, found by Keith.

It seems that the Shotley Bridge enterprise did not end c.1700 as thought, but continued with the Oley family making blades well through the century and rather silently furnishing blades to Birmingham. It was believed that the BTF (bushy tail fox) mark without the SH may have been used by Dawes, also of Birmingham, however this seems now to have been likely to have been a remnant of the Shotley blade enterprise noted.

While the use of the 'fox' seems to have ceased in Shotley around this time mid 18th c. it has been found in records of the so called 'sword scandals' of the 1790s in Birmingham perpetuated by Thomas Gill, that Oley was still a blade provider, despite not being typically noted among British blade makers of these times. These types of clandestine affairs included throughout Keiths book ("Crossed Swords: The Story of the Shotley Bridge Swordmakers")are what make it such a remarkable reference for those who study English sword making.

All best regards
Jim

[urbanspaceman]

Thank-you gents, I appreciate the introduction.
I am going to start a new thread with details of my research regarding the use of the Bushy Tailed Fox, rather than hi-jack this thread.
Please look for "The Bushy Tailed Fox" story.