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Post by sword187 on Jan 5, 2020 13:59:09 GMT
Good afternoon All, I am hoping someone here can give me some information on a sword my grand father has given me as part of an early inheritance. So far through my own research (And please correct me if I am wrong) I have discovered: * The sword is British * Was made in the Victoria Regime era (Photo Attached) * Has a brass slug with PROVED stamped on it (Photo Attached) * It is either a light infantry or Artillery sword (Need assistance deciphering the regiment etching (Photo Attached)) * Was either made by OR the retailer who sold the sword was Keane & Co, Cork (Photo Attached) Confirmation of the above points would be appreciated! In addition, there is an arrow etched into the spine of the blade with what looks like the letter V (photo attached) and a crown with the letter B or R under it (Photo Attached) I cannot find any reference to either of these marks and i'm curious who is the maker of the blade if not Keane & Co? There is no serial Number stamped on the blade, Hilt or scabbard. Any further information anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance and your time reading this.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 5, 2020 17:57:40 GMT
Are you sure that's Keane and not Keawe?
They would be the retailer. The sword is most likely imported from Solingen and then sold to them.
If it was an infantry officer sword it would have the infantry officer hilt. So it's an artillery officers sword. However the blade may determine whether mounted or not. The etching might have the words "royal/volunteer artillery". Though it may be a light cavalry officer sabre if properly sized, and has no etching bearing it to be an artillery sabre.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 5, 2020 18:00:17 GMT
The photo of a single R under a crown is interesting. It would seem it is an Irish retailer if based out of Cork.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 5, 2020 18:05:15 GMT
The arrow marks the point of percussion, the part of the blade with which to cut with for best effect. Early - Mid officer swords seem to have them. My pre number Wilkinson does for example.
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Post by sword187 on Jan 6, 2020 4:10:06 GMT
Thank you for your insights and assistance Jordan. When you say the Crown with the letter R is interesting what do you mean by that? Is it an etching not normally found on a British sword? One last identification needed, I'm looking to purchase these 2 British Infantry swords but I don't understand why the Hilts and grips are different shapes. Can someone explain it to me?
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 6, 2020 4:44:17 GMT
The r is interesting because it doesn't seem like the usual VR cipher.
Different makers, eras, years etc will produce different sizes. I've had 4 and all have been different, even having very different blade sized room
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 6, 2020 4:56:29 GMT
Here are the two most recent I have had. The smaller of these weighed 718 grams and was Crimea/Mutiny use, the larger pre numbered Wilkinson from the same, perhaps earlier era, at 800 grams. Solingen Vs. English maker.
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Post by sword187 on Jan 6, 2020 5:22:55 GMT
That's good news. I wasn't quite sure if they were legitimate or not because of the differences.
You obviously have a strong passion for swords. Is most of you collection British Military swords or do you branch out to other countries and eras?
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jan 6, 2020 5:41:35 GMT
I don't have a specific focus I guess, aside from trying to get good examples of swords either linked to my nations history or periods of history I'm interested in where they featured prominently.
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