British military swords ‘in the wild’

This is intended to be an article that will be updated periodically, showcasing sword pattern examples from the period in which they were used as seen in photographs of the time, for reference purposes to help beginning collectors.

All of these photographs are scanned from originals in my own collection — I will not be using public domain images or those held by other collectors. This will leave some British swords unrepresented in this article until I can acquire a photographic example of my own. The one exception to this is that placeholder images will be added whilst a photograph is in transit to me, to be replaced on arrival.

It has to be mentioned that in almost all cases the blade cannot be seen, so whilst we can speculate as to the blade pattern with some accuracy based on regiment and time period it will not always be correct, therefore the main thing to note will be the pattern of the sword guard.

A small glossary of terms will be found at the bottom of the article, which will expand as I see it necessary.

The 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry sabre

The 1796lc was long militarily out of British regulation by the time of widespread photography, being used only in a modified form by certain Indian cavalry units. Therefore almost all photographs of it will be non-military photographs of the genuine and by then vintage sword in use as a prop.

A man in somewhat anachronistic Highland dress, for some reason holding what appears for all the world to be a 1796 Light Cavalry pattern sabre, decades out of place. This image is clearly not military, and so as noted above the sword is almost certainly a vintage / surplus prop.

The 1796 Pattern Heavy Cavalry officers dress / dismounted sword

As above with the 1796lc this pattern of sword was long out of official military use by the time of widespread photography, although the Life Guards officers continued to use a similar pattern with lighter guard for some years after this pattern was phased out. As the header suggests this sword was the pattern used for dress by officers of the heavy cavalry and also for engagements wherein they were expected to fight on foot rather than from horseback.

A photograph of an actor in faux-military dress, including a 1796 Heavy Cavalry pattern dress/dismounted sword.

The 1803 Flank Officers sabre

Again as above with the 1796 patterns this pattern of sword was long out of official military use by the time of widespread photography. I am unsure what the meaning of one appearing in this photograph is, other than perhaps theatrics.

A photograph of a pair of actors, one of whom is wearing an example of the distinctive 1803 Pattern.

The 1821 Pattern (heavy cavalry) officers sword

This pattern was generally only used by officers of heavy cavalry, and so saw a fairly small number produced and does not appear in a large number of photographs.

A heavy cavalry Lieutenant, probably 4th Dragoon Guards, with his 1821 pattern sword. An officer of Yeomanry is also a possibility. The photograph is dated 08/08/1882 on the reverse.

A second officer of heavy cavalry with his 1821 pattern, wearing a Canadian-style cold weather uniform jacket.

An officer of the 6th Dragoon Guards on Indian service.

1821 Pattern Heavy Cavalry Trooper sword

Examples of this pattern in period photography are extremely rare, as by the time photography became widespread the pattern was obsolete.

Awaiting appropriate photographic example

The 1821 Pattern AKA ‘three bar hilt’ officers sword (light cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Army Service Corps)

This pattern is one of the most widely depicted examples, with most photographic documentation of the pattern being in the hands of Royal Artillery officers. It was also used by officers of light cavalry (for whom it was originally intended), officers of the Army Service Corps, and many officers of Yeomanry.

A very clear example of the 1821 pattern, this one being for the Royal Artillery. The Royal Artillery wore the spike on their Home Service helmets from 1878 to 1881 and then replaced it with a ball, so this photograph probably falls within those dates.

An officer of the Royal Artillery in patrol jacket with forage cap, the three-barred guard of his 1821 clearly shown.

A rare period photographic example of the 1821 being worn against regulation by a Rifle Volunteer officer.

1821 Pattern Light Cavalry Trooper sword

As with the 1821 Heavy Trooper above examples of this pattern in period photography are extremely rare, as by the time photography became widespread the pattern was obsolete. Visually however they look very much like the 1821 Pattern Light Cavalry Officer sword, but have metal ‘ears’ on the grip.

Awaiting appropriate photographic example

The 1822 Pattern officers sword

Rivalling the 1821 ‘three bar hilt’ in being the most depicted is the 1822 Pattern sword for infantry officers. This pattern was used by officers of line infantry and will most often be seen in their hands, was used by medical officers and the Royal Army Medical Corps until after WWI and was also used for an early period by Royal Artillery officers, although this will rarely be seen in period photography as the use of the pattern by the Artillery was all but phased out before photography became commonly used. Rare examples etched to Volunteer Rifles contrary to regulation are also found occasionally.

A side-on view of an 1822 pattern, held by a Major.

Then-Major Trevenen James Holland with what looks like his 1822 pattern.

A Lieutenant of an unknown Line Infantry regiment, with his 1822 sword.

An inner-side view of the 1822 pattern, in this rare case for a period photograph showcasing the folding guard of the earlier swords (the folding guard falling out of fashion after the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny).

The important detail of this 1822 pattern sword is that the photograph includes a good view of a leather liner fixed to the inside of the guard. The metal loop sometimes found on steel scabbards can also be seen on the inner side.

A second example showing a leather guard liner, this time shown from above.

An infantry officer of the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) with his 1822 pattern, this example showcasing the leather scabbard with brass fittings, the brass having a frog stud in this example.

A second example with leather and brass scabbard, showing a clearer view of the frog stud.

1827 Pattern Rifles officer sword

The Rifles pattern is very similar to the 1822 before it, being of the gothic design, only made in steel not brass. This similarity in design can make it difficult to tell the 1822 and 1827 apart (and also the 1854 mentioned later). If the cartouche is visible the presence of the strung bugle in place of the monarchs cypher will be very clear proof of the pattern, and if the quillon is visible it is usually different and fairly distinct from that of the 1822, but otherwise the uniform of the officer holding the sword will need to be the main indicator.

A wonderful photograph of then-Major Charles Villiers Somerville Downes of the East Lancashire Regiment and Adjutant of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion South Wales Border Regiment, having previously been of the 100th (Prince of Wales’s Royal Canadian). Downes was a veteran of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, serving with distinction. His son was killed in WWI with a sword noted as being owned by his father in his possession and the sword was captured — it is probably not the sword in the picture however, as his son was not an officer of Rifles.

A good visual example of the pattern, in this case showing the distinctive quillon and also the strung bugle. The officer is probably of the Dalton-in-Furness based Volunteer Rifles.

A damaged but still useful visual example of a group of officers all wearing the 1827 Pattern, the officers most probably being of a Rifle Volunteer battalion, the photograph being developed in Richmond, Yorkshire.

This example showing the all-steel scabbard used with the later examples of this pattern, as well as the sword knot.

An example of the pattern which quite nicely shows the ‘gothic’ design of the guard and the fixed inner guard, with the cartouche also visible. Also of some note is the corded version of the sword knot, not so often seen in the modern day.

The 1827 Pattern Royal Navy sword

Used by officers of the Royal Navy, this pattern is very commonly seen in period photography as it is still in use today, albeit with minor fashion-related design changes to the guard as time passed and varying fashions in blade type.

A rather blurry photograph that nonetheless quite clearly shows this pattern of sword being held by a Naval officer.

A Royal Navy Warrant Officer and his wife, with multiple defining features of the sword on show. The shagreen grip is also very clearly black.

A Royal Navy officer with the lion head grip of his sword in wonderful focus.

1828 Pattern Highland officers Sword

A group photograph of the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders officers in Sialkot, India (now Pakistan), with two of their 1828 Pattern basket hilted swords on show. This photograph is documented elsewhere, but an antique print of it is in my personal collection. Of note is that Lieutenant Colonel Burroughs (seated in the centre) is holding a 1821 Pattern Heavy Cavalry officer sword (presumably his chosen campaign sword) rather than a regimentally appropriate pattern.

An 1828 Pattern drawn from its scabbard, something rarely seen in photographs. The distinctive spherical tip of the metal scabbard shoe is also visible.

1831 Pattern ‘Mameluke’ General Officer sword

The 1831 Pattern ‘Mameluke’ was issued to General officers and their staff, and is reasonably common in period photography, being intended for dress purposes rather than fighting.

A good example of this pattern being held by an unknown General Officer.

1848 Pattern Household Cavalry troopers sword

An extremely rare pattern to find in the modern day with a very low number of known surviving examples, this sword was issued to the enlisted men of the Royal Horse Guards and 2nd Life Guards. This low number of examples coupled with the fact that troopers did not own their own swords means that the pattern is seldom seen in either the modern day or in period photography. The appearance of the sword is a combination of the 1821 Pattern Heavy Cavalry officer sword guard and the 1821 Pattern Heavy Cavalry trooper sword grip.

Extremely rare photograph of a Life Guards trooper with 1848 Pattern sword — clearly distinguished by the ‘ears’ on the grip. Note also the white leather guard liner.

1853 Pattern Universal Cavalry Trooper sword

Awaiting appropriate photographic example

1854 Pattern Foot Guards officer sword

Like the 1827 Rifles Pattern the 1854 Foot Guards Pattern is extremely hard to tell apart from the 1822 Pattern unless the cartouche and/or quillon is visible — the Foot Guards pattern does also have a slight difference in the design of the left hand side of the guard, but this will rarely be visible in photographs. The cartouche, when visible, should show the insignia of the Foot Guard regiment in question. These swords are not often seen in photographs.

Lieutenant Colonel Stracey of the Scots Guards, with his 1854 pattern sword. Thankfully we know for certain that the sword he used was a variant of the 1854 due to the Wilkinson records, and this example is in the private collection of Matt Easton. It is likely that the sword in the photograph is that same sword. Of some note here is that the sword is non-regulation, being a triangular ground thrust-centric blade, and the guard has been modified. This is not evident in the photograph.

1857 Pattern Royal Engineers officer sword

These swords are not incredibly uncommon in photography, but are one of the less easy to find types. The 1857 Pattern is of the same design as the rarer Scinde Irregular Pattern, being of the ‘scroll hilt’ design, only made in gilded brass rather than steel. They’re reasonably easy to tell apart given that Scinde Patterns are associated with cavalry, and the 1857 with Royal Engineers, but some care must be taken when identifying them especially if there is no uniform on show to narrow things down.

A Royal Engineer officer in busby, with 1857 Pattern.

The Royal Engineer officer Philip Thomas Buston, in his younger days as a Lieutenant.

Another clear example of the 1857 Pattern, held by an unknown officer.

A further example with another unknown officer, this particular sword having the guard in good focus and on clear display.

Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers special pattern

The Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers used a special and extremely distinctive pattern of sword unique to their regiment. This is often linked to their association with the famous sword maker Mole.

Photographic documentation of the pattern is incredibly rare, as being associated with a single Volunteer regiment the number of swords produced was low — I doubt that I will ever find a second original photograph of the pattern to add to this section. Note the clear lack of backstrap and the bowl guard rather than the usual gothic guard associated with the Rifles (the front of the guard being decoratively engraved)

Photograph of Captain George Allen Everitt, 1st Warwickshire Volunteer Rifles. An interesting note is that a surviving presentation sword in wonderful condition is etched to Everitt, but it is not his special pattern sword, being a normal 1827p.

1890 Universal Cavalry Trooper Pattern

An example here of the pattern worn by a trooper in a domestic rural setting.

A further example, this one in poor focus from a period postcard and worn by a lancer.

1892 Infantry Officer Pattern

This exact pattern is somewhat rare in photographs as it had a very short service life, only being regulation from 1892 to 1895 for all officers but those of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who continued to use it for some decades afterwards. Therefore most examples of this sword both found and seen in photographs will be of the RAMC.

A photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burnet MB of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who died in a tragic horse riding accident in 1915. At his side is an example of the 1892 Pattern.

1896 Universal Cavalry Pattern

The 1896 is another easier to find example in period photography, having been extended to all light cavalry, heavy cavalry and yeomanry regiments other than the Household Cavalry and a few specific exceptions such as the 4th Dragoon Guards who occasionally used a special pattern.

An example of what is probably the 1896 Universal, with a leather liner blocking the guard perforations.

A second example of the 1896 Universal Cavalry, this one with an officer of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

1897 pattern officers sword

The 1897 is the pattern most commonly found in the modern day, as it is still in service for dress wear and was produced in great numbers during WWI. It is however slightly less commonly seen in period photography than you might expect, as officers of this period disproportionally seem to eschew the wearing of their swords in portraits (probably in part related to the order to forgo the sword when in the field given to British officers in WWI, due to it being a clear signal to German snipers). It is fairly easily mistaken for the 1895 Pattern, having a very similar guard and an identical blade, but the 1895 has larger apertures in the guard and no lip on the inner edge of the guard.

An 1897 pattern sword held by an officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers

Yeoman Warder sword (of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London)

An often overlooked pattern given that they are unlikely to ever see any combat, these swords are nonetheless a British military sword, and I’m happy to represent it here.

A pair of Yeomen Warders (‘Beefeaters’) in Tudor State Dress, one wearing the sword associated with the Warders.

Mixed/miscellaneous examples

Below will be examples of photographs either showing more than one pattern of sword in the same photograph.

Here examples can be seen of the 1896, the 1890 and the 1821.

A group photo of officers with various sword patterns including two visible; an 1831 General Officer pattern and a gothic-hilted pattern.

To be identified

Below will be any swords that I cannot conclusively identify, but have thoughts on. Any input on these from readers is appreciated.

An unknown cavalry example of unusual design owned by a Lieutenant Colonel of the Life Guards — long, slim, the guard having more bars than usual and the grip having no backstrap (much like that of the 4th Dragoon Guards and certain Household Cavalry officers swords). Unlike these, however, it has a very clear quillon rather than an upturned rear lip. There is some similarity between this sword and the ‘Fantaisie’ swords of the French. The second image has been edited heavily to more clearly show the pommel cap attachment and features, the guard and the grip wire.

This sword appears to be a post-1892 gothic hilt, but may also be the P1853 Indian Army variant, the Rodwell.

Pattern to be properly identified

Pattern to be properly identified

A recent purchase, the sword pattern to be identified on arrival (original in the mail)

Soldiers of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Regiment, swords to be identified (original in the mail)

Glossary

Quillon: the spur at the rear of the guard of some sword patterns, or on both ends of a cross-guard.

Cartouche: the circular space in the guard of the ‘gothic’ style sword patterns, within which is usually a symbol of some kind, this being dependant on the pattern. On an 1822 this will usually be the cypher (initials) of the monarch at the time, on the 1827 this will be the strung bugle, and so on.