British 1895/1897 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword

THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS NEW PATTERN of infantry officer’s sword was quite radical as it came with a new type of blade and hilt that was considered a great improvement on previous designs.  Although the 1845 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword had been carried for over 45 years and been used in many conflicts throughout the British Empire, including the Crimean War, Indian Mutiny and multiple smaller wars in Africa and beyond, British Army officers still felt that it was not a good design and failed particularly with regard to the blade.  And so again, the military authorities went away and engaged the thoughts of a Colonel Fox, Chief Inspector of Physical Training at the Board of Education.  He suggested a straight blade, rounded on the back and edge, with a deep fuller to both sides.  This gave it a “dumb-bell” cross-section and it has been known as this blade type ever since.  The blade was also double-edged for the last 17 inches and terminated in a ferocious spear point.  Approval for the blade was given in 1891 but it was not until 1895, that it was formally pronounced as a pattern.

Another major change to this pattern is with regard to the hilt.  Previous hilts had been of an open design that allowed the entry of an enemy’s blade point and the possibility of disabling the swordsman’s hand.  This new pattern went some way to solving this problem by producing a steel (later, nickel-plated), three-quarter basket hilt with much smaller, pierced openings that provided greater protection to the hand.  Minor alterations to the pattern included the turning down of the inner guard (in 1897) to prevent fraying of the uniform and the replacement of the steel scabbard (except for dress) with a leather Field Service scabbard suspended by means of a frog attached to a Sam Browne belt (1899).

© 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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