FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED PRICE GUIDE FOR 2010/11

BRITISH
MILITARY
SWORDS
1786 - 1912
THE REGULATION
PATTERNS
AN ILLUSTRATED
PRICE GUIDE
FOR COLLECTORS
Harvey J. S. Withers

CURRENT MARKET VALUE PRICE GUIDE

OVER 1500 FULL COLOUR UNPUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS
british SWORD-MAKERS’ & RETAILERS’ INDEX
PROOF, MAKER AND REGIMENTAL MARKS TO SWORDS
Harvey Withers Military Publishing
 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

CHAPTER 3
British Infantry Swords
1786/1796 PATT. INFANTRY OFFICER’S SWORD HILT:
Gilt brass but also
1. 2. 3. 4. found in steel (mainly
1786 Spadroon types).
Plain brass for NCO‟s
– 1786/1796.
GRIP:
Ivory / ebony or horn
to 1786 Spadroon
versions
1786/1796 Patterns
Patterns::
Steel/silver twistwire
or a sheet silver
simulated “twistwire”
wrap.
This pattern of sword was adopted soon after the official abolition of the Officer‟s Spontoon, or half
pike, which had become little more than a symbol of authority in the field of battle, rather than an ef- SCABBARD:
fective combat weapon. King George III approved the introduction of a straight bladed, single Black leather with gilt
fullered sword, and early 1786 Pattern spadroon-type versions are to be found with a straight, beaded brass mounts.
knucklebow, reeded ivory grip and cushion, vase or urn-shaped pommels (figure 1.). This was soon An all steel “field”
replaced by a double shell guard. It is this pattern of sword that is more commonly encountered. version has been
Early examples of the 1786 Pattern (figure 4.) have a rigid double shell guard that was superceded in noted.
1796 for one that had a folding guard (figure 3.). This adaptation enabled the officer to avoid fraying
his uniform. An NCO pattern (figure 2.) is also found with plain brass hilt, blade and scabbard BLADE LENGTH:
mounts. Hilt and scabbard mounts were plain brass. It is much rarer than the officer„s sword as they Approx. 32”.
were normally discarded when unserviceable. The 1796 Pattern was the mainstay of the British Infan-
try Officer for over 25 years and the design influenced many other countries, most notably the United
States, where the Model 1840 non-commissioned officer‟s sword bears a striking resemblance. Its
obvious defects and fighting inadequacy were no doubt the cause of many unnecessary deaths
amongst British officers. Protection to the hand was minimal, and the blade was rather thin and
flimsy.

It is not a scarce sword for the collector to acquire but most examples are in poor condition due to the
fragility of the folding guard. Worn blades, and the tendency for the quillon to snap off (look out for
poorly re-attached quillons) are also common. This is made worse by the frequent absence of the gilt
brass and leather scabbard which easily perished both in the field and after years of careless storage.
Swords with substantial blue and gilt decoration remaining to the blade and complete with original
scabbard, can command very high prices. Good examples are becoming extremely difficult to locate
in the market. Many examples are marked “JJ Runkel” to the blade edge. John Runkel had an office
in London and was a major importer of German blades for the British Army during the Napoleonic
Wars.

Other makers names found on blades include Birmingham swordsmiths, Woolley and Deakin and
London makers, Brunn, Prosser and Salter.

1803 PATTERN INFANTRY OFFICER’S SWORD HILT:

Gilt brass.
1. 2. 5. 3.
GRIP:
Fishskin (figure 1.),
leather (figure 2.),
ivory (figure 3.) and
ebony – with silver or
brass twistwire.
4.
SCABBARD:
Black or brown
leather with gilt brass
mounts.

By 1800, this type of curved sabre had already been unofficially adopted by many light infantry offi- BLADE LENGTH:
Approx. 31”.
cers, and it was only a matter of time before official recognition came in 1803 (figures 1. and 2.).
One of the most attractive of British pattern swords, it has numerous subtle variations in design, most
notably to the royal cypher on the knuckle-bow and the lions-head pommel (figures 3., 4. and 6.). The
knucklebow can also feature either a bugle or flaming grenade above the royal crown, denoting use 6.
by both grenadiers and rifle companies. Blades were also lavishly decorated with blue and gilt. Its
curved, cavalry type blade borrowed much from the eastern scimitar, and it quickly enjoyed quite a
vogue amongst officers returning from the recent Egyptian campaigns. Although apparently unsuited
to fighting on the ground (its curved blade would have been more effective when slashed from the
saddle), style over substance seems to have won the day. Lieutenant William Smith of the 77th Foot
(Middlesex Regiment) carried this pattern as he “hewed and slashed his way through the enemy” be-
fore succumbing to his many wounds at the Battle of Ciudad Rodrigo in the Peninsular War. Most
examples are found without scabbards but it is worth holding on until you can locate a complete
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piece. This sword looks most attractive when paired with its gilt brass mounted scabbard. Examples
with ivory grips were likely to have been carried by more senior officers (figure 5.).
 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

1803
PATTERN
INFANTRY
OFFICER’S
SWORD

Above:
Two views of an 1803 Infantry
1803 Officer’s sword, retaining much
PATTERN original gilding.
LIONSHEAD
POMMELS

1.

Blue and gilt blade decoration,

including the figure of Britannia,
“GR” (George III) royal cypher,
crown, military trophies, laurels
and foliage. Blade is not maker
marked but is likely to have had the
blue and gilding applied in a
Birmingham workshop from a
German blade.
Left:
Backstrap
with well
defined
lionshead
Differing styles mane
of royal cypher, decoration.
including strung Note:Geor
bugle above crown, gian sword
Above and left:
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for a Rifle Officer, knots are

(figure 1.). 1803 Pattern Infantry very rare.
Officer’s Sword with leather
and brass twistwire to grip.
 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

1796 1796
PATTERN PATTERN
LIGHT HEAVY
CAVALRY CAVALRY
OFFICER’S OFFICER’S
(UNDRESS)
SWORD SWORD

THE 1796 PATTERN STIRRUP HILT

HAS MANY VARIATIONS AND WAS
INTERPRETED VERY LOOSELY,
WITH DIFFERING STYLES OF
GUARD, POMMELS, QUILLONS AND
LANGETS. Right and
above:
This rare
example
highlights the
typical
“ladder” hilt
and early
honeysuckle
designs.

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 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

1820 1848
PATTERN PATTERN
(LIFE GUARDS) (ROYAL HORSE
CAVALRY GUARDS)
TROOPER’S CAVALRY
SWORD TROOPER’S
SWORD

Blade forte maker

marked to
Hamburger, Rogers
and Co., King Street,
London.

Both the 1820 and

1848 Patterns are
extremely scarce
swords and seldom
seen in the market.

The 1820 Pattern

was a forerunner
of the 1834
Pattern Household
Cavalry Officer’s
Sword.
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This
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is evident in
the large, brass The Queen’s Bays, 1912.
studs placed on the
bowl edge.
 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

1895 1857
PATTERN PATTERN
HIGHLAND (ROYAL ENGINEERS)
INFANTRY INFANTRY
SERGEANT’S OFFICER’S
BROADSWORD BROADSWORD

Note the typical

1828 Pattern
Highland
Broadsword ball
1857 Pattern Scottish Officer’s Broadsword
with distinctive acanthus-leafed scrolling
chape scabbard. decoration to the bowl guard.

THE SWORD OF MAJOR AUGOTT OF THE

1ST BATTALION, THE DUNBARTON
RIFLE VOLUNTEERS
(PRINCESS LOUISES’S ARGYLL AND
SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS, c.1900’S.

Sergeant,
Royal Scots,
c.1890.
200
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 British Military Swords 1786 – 191
19122

1821 PATT. ROYAL ARTILLERY 1857 PATTERN ROYAL

OFFICER’S SWORD ENGINEER OFFICER’S SWORD
It is an extremely common pat- This pattern of sword was
tern of sword and a large num- carried until the late-
ber have survived. nineteenth century when it
was replaced by the
Most 1821 Pattern Light Cav- 1892/95 and finally, the
alry Officers’ Swords will dis- 1897 Pattern Infantry Offi-
play blade decoration, includ- cer’s Sword.
ing the thunderbolt, lightning
and winged motif of the Royal The 1897 Pattern is still
Artillery. carried today by Royal En-
gineer Officers. Victorian
blades normally feature
Victorian Royal Artillery Offi- Royal Engineer regimental
cers’ swords tend to have the motifs.
best quality etching to blades.
Some volunteer artillery swords
are also found with presenta- They are not particularly
tion inscriptions and etching for R oyal Engineer Officers common. When found in
almost the entire length of the (designated the Corps of Engi- good condition with origi-
This pattern of sword is iden- blade. neers, in 1788) carried standard nal brass scabbard, they can
command a high price.
tical pattern to that carried by infantry pattern swords from
light cavalry officers (1821 1786, and were regarded very
Pattern Light Cavalry Offi- much as an adjunct to the infan-
cer s S word). It was try regiments.
introduced in the 1830’s, and HILT:
adopted by both Royal Artil- Gilt brass or
lery and Royal Horse Artil-
In the Victorian era, the Royal gunmetal.
lery Officers. Engineers established a specific
and unique role for themselves.
They underlined their independ- GRIP:
Prior to this, officers carried ence with a sword design pecu- Fishskin and brass
the standard 1786 and 1796 liar to their branch of service. twistwire
twistwire..
Pattern Infantry Officer’s
Sword. The mounted Royal It is one of the most attractive of SCABBARD:
Horse Artillery (formed in Steel/brass for Field
1799, and a separate wing of Victorian sword designs and fea- Officers
Officers..
the Royal Artillery), used the tures a pierced gilt brass bowl
1796 Pattern Light Cavalry guard, with deep scrolled acan- BLADE LENGTH:
Officer’s Sword whilst in the thus leafed decoration. Approx. 32
32”.
”.
field, and a mameluke hilted
sword for dress occasions.

The standard three bar hilted C.1870 HONOURABLE ARTILLERY

light cavalry officer’s sword COMPANY OFFICER’S SWORD
eventually became the uni-
versal weapon for officers cost came out of their own
serving in all branches of the pocket, they wasted no time
Royal Artillery. in embellishing their
swords with extravagant
hilt and blade decoration,
including presentation in-
scriptions. Blue and gilt
blades are also common.

The c.1870 Honourable

Artillery Officer’s sword
pictured highlights the
strong influence of French
sword design at this time,
particularly the knucklebow
and angled pommel.
The Honourable Artillery Com- Note the flaming grenade
pany is the oldest regiment in motif in the hilt, signifying
the British Army, and was estab- their artillery designation.
Above and left: lished in 1537 by King Henry
1821 Pattern – short version. VIII. The charter described a
“Fraternity or Guild of St.
George: Masters and Rulers of
HILT: the said science of Artillery as
Steel
Steel.. aforesaid rehearsed for Long- HILT:
bows, Cross-bows and Hand- Gilt brass
brass..
guns”.
GRIP:
Fishskin and silver/
It was primarily a citizen mili-
GRIP:
steel twistwire. Fishskin and brass
tia, and raised in times of na- twistwire
twistwire..
SCABBARD: tional emergency, including the
Steel
Steel.. Armada, English Civil War and SCABBARD:
Napoleonic Wars. Up until the Black leather with
BLADE LENGTH: Victorian era, officers would gilt brass mounts.
Approx. 32
32”.
”. have probably followed infantry
Approx. 28” for the sword patterns. As this was a BLADE LENGTH:
PAGE 77

short version. volunteer army, they would have Approx. 30

30”.
”.
had to pay for all service equip-
ment, including swords. As the
 British Military Swords 1786 – 1912

1805
PATTERN
NAVAL
OFFICER’S
SWORD

Above and Above: Above:

left: Scabbard with typical Scabbard throat
Unusual late-Georgian incised etched with makers
1805 Pattern geometric designs to name of William
Naval the leather. Drury, London.
Officer’s
sword with
18th Century
multi-fullered Nelson at the
blade and Battle of
“Andrea Copenhagen,
Ferrara” 1801.
markings.

A Naval Boarding Action, c.1810.

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