THIS SWORD IS COMMONLY KNOWN as the 1821 Pattern although it was only officially adopted in the 1822 Dress Regulations. It was a major departure from previous cavalry pattern swords in having a steel three-bar hilt and pipe back blade with spear point, double-edged for the last 10 inches. It gave more protection to the wearer’s hand than its stirrup-hilted predecessor but it was still vulnerable to piercing within the bars by an opponent’s blade. Despite these drawbacks, it was an actual improvement, and reports from the field said that it was a relatively effective fighting weapon, although early examples had weaker blades that were prone to breaking and this issue was later addressed when the pipe back blade was replaced with the “Wilkinson” type.
The sword is very similar to the trooper’s version and differs with regard to the hilt bars which are fluted in the officer’s version whereas they are plain in the trooper’s sword. The grip is also wrapped in fishskin and bound with twistwire and the backpiece terminates with a stepped pommel. Early examples from the Late-Georgian period have quite a pronounced, stepped pommel and these tend to be from the reigns of King George IV and William IV, which encompass the years 1820-1837. Victorian swords have a far less exaggerated pommel.
The late Georgian swords are probably more attractive due to the flowing lines of the pipe back blade and its delicate blade etching. Like its infantry counterpart, they tended to wear quite easily, making recognition sometimes difficult, particularly with regard to the royal cyphers. Georgian blades are far less decorated with just the royal cypher, crown and maybe a laurel wreath within a tablet. Victorian blades can also include complex and heavy decoration for most of its length, particularly the presentation pieces. Both the cavalry regiments and the Royal Artillery adopted this sword and it is still carried by serving officers of the British Army.
Victorian examples made by Henry Wilkinson are normally of very high quality and better made than most other contemporary swords, with thick hilt bars, fatter grips (including their Patent Solid Hilt examples) and a wider blade. Blade etching is usually superb. The company’s aim was to prove that their swords could outdo in quality and durability any domestic or foreign competition. Other quality makers of this pattern include Prosser, Firmin, Gaunt and Silver.
© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024