| Collection #: | 2021.021 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Spadroon |
| Nationality: | British |
| Pattern: | 1805 Pattern Naval Officer - Lieutenants & Midshipmen |
| Date: | c.1805 |
| Hilt: | Stirrup Hilt - Brass |
| Blade Length: | 81cm (31.9") |
| Blade Width: | 2.8cm (1.1") |
| Overall Length: | 92.5cm (36.4") |
| Maker: | No Legible Maker's Mark |
This example of a British 1805 pattern naval sword for Lieutenants and Midshipmen is out of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It has a good amount of gold gilt remaining on the right-hand side of the hilt (which would have been worn away from the body). The left-hand side of the hilt has had more gilt worn away – possibly because that is the side that would have been worn up against the body. The hilt has no movement on the blade but is missing a small amount of wood at the top of the grip. The sharkskin grip is in good condition on the right side with some worn away on the left. The wire wrap is tight and intact. The fouled anchor appears on both langets. As this is the plain version of the 1805 pattern it has a plain stepped pommel. At the top of the guard near the pommel is a slot for the sword knot.
The blade has some rust which has been mostly stabilized (a little more attention is required under the langets). The straight, single fullered blade concludes in a sharpened tip. There are no maker’s marks visible on either the spine or the forte of the blade. Decorations extend halfway down both sides of the blade. The right-hand side starts with floral decorations, then a stand of arms with a crossed flag and halberd with drums on top then concludes with another floral decoration. The left-hand side also starts off with a floral decoration, then moves into the royal coat of arms (1801-1816), and then ends with another similar floral decoration. See the gallery below for images.
The 1805 pattern was the first official pattern introduced by the Royal Navy for officers. With the Army having introduced a whirlwind of sword patterns in the late 18th century, it was now the Navy’s turn. To some degree, they drew from designs that were already in use. The spadroon blade from the 1796 Infantry pattern, the stirrup hilt from the 1796 light cavalry pattern. In the case of the decorated version of this sword (for higher ranking officers) there is a lions-head pommel, drawn from the 1803 infantry pattern. (McGrath & Barton, pg.39-41)
The official regulations have apparently been lost, however, they seemed to be relaxed enough to have permitted naval officers to continue using older existing alternative, but similar, swords.
Two different styles of the 1805 pattern naval sword can be found. The first with a plain pommel and typically dark fish-skin grip. The second is found with a lion’s head pommel and an ivory or white fish-skin grip. The purpose seems to have been to differentiate rank. So if the regulations are lost, how do we know what ranks they pertain to? Gilkerson (page 121) references a book by Lt. C. Claxton (1814) which mentions that “…Lieutenants [had] black handled uniform swords, commanders and captains, ivory.”
On the same page, Gilkerson (page 121) also references an admiralty note of 1805 which specifies that the lion-head pommel was only to be used by “…Admirals, Captains and Commanders and the plain sword by Lieutenants and Midshipmen.”
This would seem to settle the matter…except for the number of examples out there which diverge from this rule. Such as plain hilted swords with ivory grips and lion-headed examples with black fish-skin grips. (Gilkerson, pg.121)
Regarding the plain version of the 1805 pattern, it is rare to see these swords with many decorative embellishments. The blades are not usually blued and contain the basic engravings of the Royal Arms and naval trophies. A fouled anchor is usually engraved on the langets. As of 1825, all commissioned officers moved to carry the decorated version while midshipmen and warrant officers would continue carrying the plain version. (McGrath & Barton, pg.41)
One other observation (which may explain one of the anomalies) by Annis & May in their two-volume work Swords for Sea Service, is that the lion-head with ivory grip version was for senior officers, the lion-head with black grip was for lieutenants and the plain stepped pommel with black grip was for midshipmen and warrant officers. (May & Annis, pg.5)
The 1805 pattern for naval officers would remain in use throughout the remaining Napoleanic Wars, War of 1812 and after into the 1820s. The pattern which would replace this sword would later be adopted in 1827.
Read the full accounts of what these authors have recorded, plus some other research or references on this pattern:
Chartrand, R. (2011) A scarlet coat – uniforms, flags and equipment of the british in the war of 1812. Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Pages 163-164.
Gilkerson, W. (1991) Boarders away – with steel edged weapons & polearms. Andrew Mowbray, inc., Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.A. Pages 121-122.
May, Commander W.E., RN & Annis, P.G.W. (1970) Swords for sea service (volume one). Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London, UK. Page 5 & 30-33.
McGrath, J. & Barton, M. (2013) British naval swords & swordsmanship. Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, UK. Pages 39-41.
Wilkinson, F. (1970) Edged weapons. Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York, USA. Page 158.
Withers, H. (2008) An illustrated encyclopedia of swords and sabres. Anness Publishing, London, UK. Pages 71 & 84.
Withers, H. (2010) British military swords: 1786-1912 the regulation patterns. Harvey Withers Military Publishing, Sutton Coldfield, UK. Page 94
For further visual research, feel free to look up the following books for photos of other examples of this sword.
Annis, P.G.W., Naval swords. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA, USA. Pages 46, 47 (Decorated version)
Gilkerson, W. (1991) Boarders away – with steel edged weapons & polearms. Andrew Mowbray, inc., Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.A. Page 122.
May, Commander W.E., RN & Annis, P.G.W. (1970) Swords for sea service (volume two). Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London, UK. Plate 28 (deco), 31(deco and plain), 32&33(deco), 34(plain)
McGrath, J. & Barton, M. (2013) British naval swords & swordsmanship. Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, UK. Pages 40 – 41.
Wilkinson, F. (1970) Edged weapons. Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York, USA. Page 160.
Withers, H. (2008) An illustrated encyclopedia of swords and sabres. Anness Publishing, London, UK. Pages 71 & 84.
Withers, H. (2006) World swords 1400-1945 – an illustrated price guide for collectors. Studio Jupiter Military Publishing, Sutton Coldfield, UK. Page 240 (decorated version), 242 & 246 (for undecorated)
