BRITISH VICTORIAN 1827 PATTERN NAVAL SWORD
HISTORY
The 1827 Pattern Sabre
The year 1827 ushered in an updated design for the officers’ sabre. Based on the British Army’s 1822 Pattern Sabre, the new sword had a gilt-brass hilt of ‘Gothic’ flair forming a half-basket and presenting an oval cartouche containing a fouled anchor and crown. The blade was of the pipe-back type, ending in a quill point and sometimes incorporating a large, flared cutting edge to the rear of the blade’s final third or quarter. The grip was covered in large-nodule white shagreen: dark shagreen still denoting warrant officers’ ownership.
Whether the knuckle-bow entered the lion’s-head pommel through the mouth or under the chin seems to have been a manufacturer’s preference though debate continues regarding this point and some collectors insist the under-chin variant only came along after 1901. The short lion’s mane of the 1805 Pattern’s back-strap seems to have been eschewed by having a longer one in this period. A single slot in the knuckle-bow (near to the pommel) was provided for the sword knot to be tied to and then, from around 1830, a ring for it was often attached to the handle’s ferrule. The two holes in the guard were introduced in the late 1830s and are now familiar staples of the model. The black leather scabbard had three gilt-brass mounts: a locket, middle and a chape. The two suspension rings were attached to the first two sections.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This unmarked Naval Sword has engravings to both sides of the blade and dates around the 1830,s as it has the two holes in the guard. Typical pipe back blade showing the usual signs of age and use. Scabbard is complete and functional with a small piece of the seam parting (common). Portsmouth makers name to the chape.