Some Napoleonic British swords

[Invisible officer]

I guess some information about British Infantry officer's sword might be good for painters.
Pre 1796 swords could have a guard of silver if the colonel of a silver lace / button colour decided so. But most opted for gold. The form of the guard was not regulated.
The following picture show just some forms a foot officer of a line regiment could wear.



Post 1796 the guard was regulated, a double shell with quillon and a big pommel. And gilded for all units.
The following is made by Gill with a folding shell to safe the clothes from damage. It's no rust, just the aged blueing.



The scabbard metal fittings had the colour of the guard.

Light company officers choose sabres but before 1803 there was no regulation for that, in 1799 there was an order with official permission for sabres but without a type given . The two on the group pics are pre 1799 variants.

[Centurion Dan]

Are they your own collection? There are some beautiful looking swords there - wish I had room for a collection like that!

[carvel2]

@IO ....Show stopper! I have some nice cutlery but nothing to match this!

[Biggus Dickus]

@IO ....Show stopper! I have some nice cutlery but nothing to match this!

Nice, but not Roman ....what is it with all these people collecting and painting stuff that isn't Roman?...can't understand it myself
He can only hold 2 of the pointy sticks at any one time
Come on I.O. get yourself a proper sword like mine
....Ok so one of them is made of Oak.....but the other one is tool grade carbon steel.....more to the point (no pun intended) they are Roman, unlike yours

[Invisible officer]

Are they your own collection? There are some beautiful looking swords there - wish I had room for a collection like that!

Well, they are a part of my collection, not even all Napoleonic Infantry officer's swords on the picture. Must get a much bigger table. My last count stopped at 67, all original and all British. Most pre 1918. (Only one EIIR)

Total CRAZY.

Hmm, the Gladius. My problem is that it is not Roman. Items like that are fantastic for a reenactor or for decoration but I would never collect copies.
It is impossible to get a nice condition gladius, 2000 years may be the problem.

There are many copies of British swords on the market but they have not the right feeling. If you handle them the ballance of the blade is not correct and more often than not there are mistakes in the form. Sometimes small, often big ones. Astonishingly many sell at crazy prices offered as original. I remember a heavy 1796 that sold last year in an auction at 1200 £ A copy.

[Biggus Dickus]

Hmm, the Gladius. My problem is that it is not Roman. Items like that are fantastic for a reenactor or for decoration but I would never collect copies.
It is impossible to get a nice condition gladius, 2000 years may be the problem.

Yes I'd love a real Roman sword, but alas.....it isn't going to happen.....a piece of twisted rotting iron isn't much use to anyone but a museum.......My Sword is real in that it has been hand forged and is combat capable...I intend to use it against a practice Pell....and celts, there are some hill forts round here that need re taking ..... so it isn't just to look pretty But it isn't original, sadly.....Choice was simple, this or nothing!!!...So I elected to have a copy.

Nice sword collection by the way.

[Invisible officer]

This is the 1803 Sword for Officers of Light and Grenadier companies and regimental field officers.




Some had a grenade or bugle added to the knucklebow, this one is without as worn by field officers . Black leather scabbard with gilded mounts.

Rifle officers got in 1802 a regulation sabre style sword with a stirrup hilt. Theese had a steel hilt ! Black leather scabbard with steel mounts. In the 1802 regulation it was described as being "a sabre similar to the light cavalry".

[Centurion Dan]

67! Bloody hell! Your house must look like an armoury
I've got about 8 blades myself - all replicas unfortunately and mainly Japanese Katanas although I do have 2 film replica blades. One's the Daywalkers sword from Blade and the other is a Spartan blade from 300 which although is a replica was sharp straight put of the box.
@ Biggus Dickus - where can you get the practice Gladius from? Training with one would br a great way of burning off a few extra calories - plus it looks cool!

[Phil]

Can't be worse than my old mate Tim's house... He had a collction of tank track links. I kid you not! They made bloomin' good door-stops, I can tell you, but you really, really, really, didn't want to stub your toe on them.

Phil

[Centurion Dan]

Can't be worse than my old mate Tim's house... He had a collction of tank track links. I kid you not! They made bloomin' good door-stops, I can tell you, but you really, really, really, didn't want to stub your toe on them.

Phil

Ouch!
Maybe he was planning on converting his car into his very own halftrack!