British Raj Light Calvary Trooper Sword
British Raj Light Calvary Trooper Sword
Paget Pattern #6480
British Raj (India, Pakistan)
Last half 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1860 - 1914)
Steel, leather, brass
Blade: 83,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 98,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number: 362
Known as the Pagent Pattern #6480 by Wilkinson, Mole, and other manufacturers were contracted to produce the blades. This is an unusual sword in that it is a combination of British pattern components made for the Indian Army who favored the use of the traditional tulwar sword, resulting in many 1796 pattern blades being rehilted to newer regulation models. This design used components from both patterns and was introduced in the 1860s, continuing in action up until the First World War. It was used by British Indian forces in multiple global conflicts from the Punjab, Afghanistan, Malaya, China, France, Africa, and Arabia.
This sword offers a massive curved steel, single- edged British Pattern 1796 light calvary trooper style blade with a single broad fuller for 3/4 of the blade length tapering into a hatchet point. Unmarked blade and ricasso. Attached to a British Pattern 1821 iron three-bar guard with an upturned quillion, iron backstrap with a grip of leather binded by braided brass wire. The steel sheath is missing.
This example is possibly produced by Mole or Wilkinson and may be an Indian Officer's sword due to the brass wire binding. It may have been deemed for the Bengal Calvary Regiment or Lancers due to the 33" blade length, whereas the 31 1/2" smaller blades were used for Madras and Bombay forces. This is a very heavy and well-balanced thrusting sword that has likley seen some battle use by the deep nicks to the blade. Left as is to keep the aged patina.
Photo 10: Major General Richard Hilton seen with Indian officers with similar swords. Date and location unknown.