British 19th Century Royal Marines Officers’ Swords

THIS IS AN INTERESTING PATTERN as it appears to be a direct copy of the 1822 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword.  Indeed, when the 1822 Pattern was introduced, Royal Marines’ officers were ordered to carry this sword and it can only be differentiated by the inclusion of a Royal Marines designation to the blade etching.  Royal Marines’ officers also carried subsequent infantry officer patterns and it is only in the 1874 Navy List, when formal regulations dictated what type of sword should be carried:

Sword: Half-basket hilt and backpiece of gilt metal, with a device of Royal Cypher and crown, and lined with black patent leather, fish-skin grip, bound with gilt wire, slightly curved blade, grooved and spear-pointed.

Scabbard: Brass for Field Officers; for other officers steel.

Colonels Commandant and Colonels Second Commandant were required to carry the following sword:

Sword: Gilt half-basket hilt, with device of sword and baton crossed, encircled with laurel leaves, and surmounted by a crown, black fish-skin grip, bound with gilt wire; slightly curved blade, grooved and spear-pointed.

Scabbard: Brass.

© 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

For more details please click on the images.