Indian Police sword by J.R. Gaunt & Sons Ltd., British Empire (c 1905-48)

Title	Indian Police sword by J.R. Gaunt & Sons Ltd.
Nationality	British Empire
Period	c 1905-48

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This is one of the rarest of the Raj era swords, with a claim to literary fame as being the type that George Orwell would have carried as a police officer in Burma in the 1930s. The hilt pattern is the 1827 British Rifle Regiment one, modified by having the initials 'IP' under a crown instead of the conventional Light Infantry bugle.

It has got the maker mark 'J.R.GAUNT & SON LIMITED LATE EDWARD THURKLE LONDON & BIRMINGHAM'. There is also the number 16588 on the spine of the blade and the usual proof stamp inside a Star of David.

The blade retains virtually all of its original frost-etched finish, with a few age stains scattered throughout and a chip at the point where the last eighth of an inch has gone. The scabbard frog is in high grade calfskin, the scabbard is in pigskin, and there is some shrinkage resulting in the sword standing out by about an eighth of an inch at most. The scabbard leather is back to front, with the drag facing the wrong way, quite typical of 20th-century sword production or a careless batman cleaning the sword and letting the leather strap at the top of the scabbard swivel around.The ferrule at the base of the grip is somewhat loose,but the sword has not been dismantled.The hilt has been tightened by the insertion of mild steel wedges under the leather washer.

Provenance: ex-Gary Bates collection.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Edged Weapons : Swords : British Empire : 20th Century]

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