*1831 George V Officers Mameluke Sword (with serial no) and Black Leather Scabbard. In excellent condition.*
GEORGE V OFFICER’S MAMELUKE SWORD AND SCABBARD. An 1831 Pattern Officer’s sword with shaped two piece ivory mounted grip with brass tang and with two rosette fastenings and a gold and red sword knot is attached to the pommel. The cross bar is elaborate with Crown, Thistles, Roses and Shamrocks leading to a cartouche. The 79cm curved blade features etched decoration, George V cypher (GvR), and is marked ‘Made in England’ with serial number 16504, foliage and a 6 pointed star. The scabbard is black leather with brass tip and and top two brass hanger rings of which the top one is attached to the locket.
A Mameluke sword /ˈmæməluːk/ is a cross-hilted, curved, scimitar-like sword historically derived from sabres used by Mamluk warriors of Mamluk Egypt after whom the sword is named. The hilt and blade retain many features of the Turkish kilij from which it was derived. These include the cross-guard with two opposing langets and the down curving ‘pistol-grip’ shaped pommel; the blade retains the yelman false-edge and the step to the back of the blade (latchet) close to it. The 31 inch-long (79 cm) blade is slab-sided and of a ‘V’ shaped cross-section, it is double-edged for its last 12 inches (the yelman) and comes to a relatively acute asymmetric point.
The Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers is a British army pattern sword prescribed for the use of officers of the rank of major-general and above. The decision to introduce a mameluke sword as the official regulation sword for officers of the rank of major-general and above is generally ascribed to the Duke of Wellington. Typically royal equerries employ the monarch’s cypher and lords lieutenant use national symbols appropriate to their county (rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Northern Ireland and ‘Prince of Wales’ feathers’ for Wales). The 1831 sabre was initially produced with two scabbards, a black leather scabbard with elaborate gilt mounts intended for lévees and evening functions and a brass scabbard for all other occasions.
*Condition*
The sword is in excellent overall condition. There is slight damage to the ivory grip by the crossguard, with a piece chipped off. The blade is clean with no nicks. The scabbard is in good condition with a few minor signs of wear and tear, the sword sheaths and draws smoothly. Please refer to the photographs as part of the condition report.
JAGFOOXHOO_3662118080
