Mameluke Pattern Sword Of A Royal Equerry, 1900s

A particularly handsome and scarce example of this sword. In most respects, the sword is identical to the standard general officer’s sword of 1831 pattern but it is retailed by Ranken & Co of Calcutta [although the blade is also marked London Made] and the écusson bears the royal cypher GRI instead of the crossed baton and sword device of a general. It also has the brass scabbard which was officially replaced by a plated steel version in 1898 but appears to have continued in use in some cases. This mameluke pattern of the sword was adopted by several nations following the Egyptian campaigns of the Napoleonic period and a similar one was used by Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, during his service in India. The blade has the GRI version of the royal cypher used on Indian blades. Provenance: We believe this sword belonged to one of the last British Residents in Kashmir.

As a high political officer, he would have been expected to wear the sword with the royal coat of arms on the écusson and indeed the sword retains its sword knot which is of the distinctive Indian pattern [see the illustration 156, p 297, in B Robson: Swords of the British Army]. Perhaps he held both posts at different times.