British Pattern 1864 cavalry trooper's sword

[Ostrosky]

I recently acquired a 1864 p cavalry trooper's sword in South Africa. The sword was made by Robert Mole & Sons, Birmingham, and bears a Crown,/B/21 on the forte and a Crown/BR/21 (Birmingham Repair) on the spine. It has sold out of service opposing broadheads and a Crown 3 on the tang.

 

I have only seen this one 1864p in South Africa. When watching one of Matt Easton's videos on 1853/64 swords, he mentions that he has had only 2 1864s but 30 or more 1853s and asks, "What happened to the the other '64s?" Some seem to have gone to the West Indies and Canada around the time of the American Civil War, but some were used in the Second Afghan War, though identifiable photographs or paintings are hard to come by.

 

I'm trying to establish which regiments were issued the 1864 p swords, and when, whether British units or those in the colonies, West Indies, Canada, or even South Africa. Any documentation, photos or detailed paintings will be appreciated.

[Michael R]

Hi Ostrosky, I have one of these weapons of standard cavalry pattern, however it is not marked to a cavalry regiment but to a Royal Engineer unit! Must be incorrect? However, the RE mounted detachment, who supported the cavalry under the title "11 Field Company of 1 RE Squadron", was formed in 1885, serving in the Egyptian War and in circa 1894 was established as part of the Cavalry Division. The unit was retitled the "Mounted Detachment RE". During the Boer War it was again renamed "1st Field Troop RE". The mounted RE went on to serve during World Wars 1 and 2 and, I believe, there after.

 

The sword details are:

 

1. Enfield produced pattern 1899 Cavalry Trooper's Sword.

2. Numerous Ordnance Marks (OM).

3. Blade markings:

    a. Spine: "?/99".

    b. Obverse: ricasso, "arrow over EFD" and "OM over X".

    c.  Reverse: ricasso,  "00 over OM, '00 along side OM, '01 and ' 08". total number of OM

         is 5.

 4. Hilt markings:

    a. Spine: "50".

    b. Lower outer basket "EFD over OM".

    c. Lower inner basket "6/05 over I.S.L. or 1.S.L. over RE over 5".

 

Your P1864 sword was a forerunner my P1899 and given that the first mounted RE unit was formed in 1885, it is likely that they were first issued with P1864 swords or, as an alternative suggestion, perhaps the P1864 swords were withdrawn from service and re-hilted hence the lack of specimens available today?

 

Not a lot of help but I hope interesting?

 

Cheers Mike R