British 1889 Pattern Infantry NCO’s Sword

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, Sergeants and Staff Sergeants in the British Army tended to carry the same pattern as officers, differing only in that NCO blades were plain and undecorated.  A specific named pattern for Staff Sergeants was introduced in 1861(the carrying of swords for ordinary infantry sergeants having been abolished in 1852) but this was also very similar to officers’ swords with minor changes to blade dimensions.  This pattern was again replaced by the 1866 Pattern Staff Sergeant’s Sword that specified a rounded back to the blade and slightly different decoration to the brass scabbard mounts.

It is only in 1889 that a new pattern and style of Staff Sergeant’s sword was authorised, due mainly to failings of swords in combat over previous years, where it was found to be weak and flimsy.  The emphasis on this new pattern was rightly directed at the blade and its weight and thickness was increased to make it a more sturdy fighting weapon.  The hilt was either gun-metal or cast-iron (for dismounted artillery or rifle regiments) or brass (for engineers and infantry).  The design of the steel scabbard was quite a departure from the accepted norm for infantry swords and comprised a cavalry style arrangement of two fixed steel loops and no frog stud.  The scabbard was subsequently found to be too heavy (at 1lb 4 ozs and was lightened twice to 1lb 2 ozs, in 1892.

© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024

Taken from The British Sword – From 1600 to the Present Day – An Illustrated History by Harvey J S Withers – 12,000 full colour photographs – 884 pages

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