Small Victorian 1827 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword with Hinged Guard

*Small Victorian 1827 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword with hinged guard*

Infantry Officer’s sword. Gothic brass hilt with VR cypher with copper wire bound shagreen grip. The inside section of the guard folds on a hinge towards the blade, to allow the sword to rest easily against the wearer’s side when worn. The hinged guard flap, which had been standard (if not universal) from 1822, started to disappear in the 1850s, to be replaced by a solid brass guard almost universally after around 1860. 72cm plain single edged blade.

The gothic hilted swords were a family of swords carried by officers and some NCOs of the British Army between 1822 and the present day. They were primarily infantry swords, although they were also regulation pattern for some other officers such as surgeons and staff officers. The term “Gothic hilt” is derived from a perceived similarity between the curved bars of the guard and the arches found in Gothic architecture. They were elegant aesthetically pleasing weapons, although they were considered by some to be mediocre fighting swords. The weapon and its variants had a very long service life.

*Condition*
In good condition with age related wear and tear. The hinged guard brass flap is broken though it still works. Some tarnishing and a few minor nicks to the blade. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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