DEVELOPED BY COLONEL W.B. DUNDAS, who originally served as a lieutenant with the Royal Artillery during the Napoleonic Wars, it was designated to be carried by soldiers manning field guns in the Royal Artillery. It is a very sturdy weapon with a heavy, solid brass hilt and thick blade. A version with an iron hilt and scabbard has also been noted. Its service life was relatively short, probably from around 1845 to 1855, when the Dress Regulations (1855) stated that a sword for Royal Artillery drivers was no longer required.
The “Dundas” sword was probably not carried solely by the Royal Artillery and its all-purpose and robust design would have been suitable for other governmental departments, ranging from Customs Officers to both Police and Prison Officers.
Many are seen with slight alterations to both the hilt and blade with some having a more rounded knucklebow and differing curvatures and lengths of blade. This is due mainly to the slightly different interpretations of its design by sword makers. Scabbards were made from wrought iron.
© 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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