C.1800’s British Naval Officers’ Swords – Stirrup Hilt

BRITISH NAPOLEONIC NAVAL Warrant Officers and junior lieutenants and midshipmen used a similar stirrup-hilted sword to the 1805 Pattern Naval Officer’s Sword.  Most are found with a plain pommel although rarely, they can be noted with a lionshead pommel.  Unlike senior officers (Captain, Commander and Admiral rank), whose sword grip was made from ivory, swords carried by these ranks are normally found with a black fishskin grip. 

Blades are identical to the officer’s pattern (that is straight, single-fullered and double-edged towards the point) although many are also encountered that are plain and undecorated.  Scabbards again are typically of black leather with plain brass mounts.

In 1825, a change was made to the hilt with the “stirrup” element of the hilt replaced with a D-guard.  It was laid out in the official regulations (that also applied to more senior officers):

“…the backpiece of the handle is to be plain, with a flute round the top and down the back; with a black fishskin gripe bound with three gold wires..” and specifically for Midshipmen: “Of the same pattern as Masters, but of such length as may be convenient.”

This was due to many of the Midshipmen being merely boys and not able to carry a full length sword.

© 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.