Sword

Army sword. The hilt consists of a straight, steel stirrup guard leading to a large, heart-shaped shell. Within the shell (on its lower face) an additional guard of elongated lozenge shape is riveted to the shell to strengthen it. Both shell and inner guard end in an oval tongue at the back. There is a smooth steel back-piece and a domed pommel. Ears are fitted each side, riveted through the grip, and in addition there is a tang button. The shell is decorated with four holes near each side edge. There is a leather-covered, horizontally ribbed grip with a small, plain steel ferrule at the top of the grip. There is a slot in the guard near the pommel for a swordknot (missing). Additional holes are found in the shell, one each side of the ferrule.

The blade is straight, flat-backed to a hatchet point and has a broad shallow groove each side from the shoulder for about 685mm. There is a slight suggestion of a false edge for the last 150mm. Engraved on the obverse is a small crown above the figure 4. There are no inscriptions on the reverse. The scabbard is missing.

This pattern of heavy cavalry sabre was introduced in about 1796. Some examples have this langets but this shows no sign of any having been fitted. The construction is stronger than normally found (reinforced guard, tanged and riverted grip) and is probably purely a heavy cavalry feature. Although replaced in 1830 (by WPN1414) this type lasted for a few years longer. It is probable that this type of sword was chosen, in the 1830s or 1840s, when more cutlass blades were required to have its blade shortened and remounted for serivce at sea. In the Army, the hatchet point was replaced by a spear point in 1822. The sword's waterproof cover is part numbered WPN1413.1.

Object Details

ID: WPN1413
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gill, John
Date made: circa 1804
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Blade: 883 x 38 mm
Parts: Sword
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