C.1800’s British Coastguard/Surgeon Officers’ Swords/Hangers

BRITISH COASTGUARD OFFICERS carried a number of hanger type swords and it is generally agreed that the style of sword comprised a brass stirrup hilt and ribbed brass or iron grip.  Blades are slightly curved and single or double-fullered.   Some have official inspection stamps and occasionally, royal cyphers.  They would have been carried in a plain, black leather and brass-mounted scabbard.

New regulations were introduced in 1825 that required civil branches of the Royal Navy to wear smallswords.  This included medical officers and pursers. The sword comprised a typical triangular, smallsword blade and gilt brass hilt with a black grip.  The hilt had a circular or disk guard (sometimes hinged to one side so that it could be folded when the sword was worn) and within the grip was a lozenge or tablet that displayed the branch of service.  For medical officers e.g. surgeons, physicians or assistant physicians, the tablet would have an engraved anchor with entwined snake.  These swords were officially carried for only seven years, thereafter officers reverted to standard naval patterns.

© 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.