WW1 British / Australian Pattern 1822 Royal Artillery (RAA) Officers Sword Etched Blade - George V - Officer’s Bullion Sword Knot

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Seller: anzacblade ✉️ (1,399) 100%, Location: Batemans Bay, NSW, AU, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 204686129380 WW1 British / Australian Pattern 1822 Royal Artillery (RAA) Officers Sword.

A FIRST WORLD WAR BRITISH / AUSTRALIAN PATTERN 1822 ROYAL ARTILLERY (RAA) OFFICERS SWORD AND FIELD SERVICE SCABBARD ETCHED WITH THE ROYAL CYPHER OF KING GEORGE V AND FITTED WITH AN ORIGINAL ARMY OFFICER’S BULLION SWORD KNOT.

 

The Sword, Royal Artillery Officer, Pattern 1822 , as it is officially designated, was developed from the three bar hilted Light Cavalry Officers Sword, Pattern 1821, with its pipe-backed blade.  As Brian Robson in his excellent reference work ‘Swords of the British Army ’ writes these swords have ‘been carried, with minor changes and one exception (the Mountain Artillery, Pattern 1896), by Royal Artillery’ and Royal Australian Artillery Officers ever since. It is fitted with the post 1845 fullered blade and post 1895 fully chequered backstrap.

 

The basic characteristics of the Sword, Royal Artillery Officer, Pattern 1822 were similar to the Light Cavalry Pattern 1821 although original Pattern 1821 pipe-backed blade was replaced with a more robust fullered blade after 1845. This sword is a well used example of this revised pattern. The slightly curved blade was optimized for thrusting in line with the common wisdom of the time, which stated that ‘the point will always beat the edge’. The new guard was a three bar basket hilt in plated sheet steel that provided good protection to the officers hand. The grip is sharkskin/shagrin covered wood bound with brass wire.  This particular example is fitted with its original leather Pattern 1897 Field Service Scabbard and an original officer’s bullion sword knot . The Australian War Memorial many similar swords, including one by the same manufacturer: RELAWM15261.  Another example, also produced by Wilkinson and carried by Lieutenant C C Worner, of the 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, is held by the AWM as exhibit RELAWM16361.001.  The two swords can be viewed online at: [link removed by eBay] and [link removed by eBay] .

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With regard to Australian service, the majority of swords supplied to British and commonwealth officers throughout the Empire were purchased via London suppliers or local suppliers selling swords made in the UK.  The maker marks on this sword have been obscured by use and plating over time so it could either be a British made sword or a Dominion blade.  Attached to this listing for reference are two period photographs showing similar swords being carried.  The first is an informal outdoor group portrait of officers of the 9th Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. The officer sitting in the centre with Sword, Royal Artillery Officer, Pattern 1822 on his hip is Major William Livingstone Hatchwell Burgess (later Brigadier General CB, CMG, DSO, DSM (USA), and Legion D’Honneur Croix D’Officer (France).  Interestingly the officer on the left of the photo Lt John Rupert Ellis is carrying a Pattern 1897 Sword fitted with a similar sword knot to the one on this sword.  The second photo, shows General Sir John Monash, who was originally a Artillery Officer, mounted for the ANZAC Day parade in Melbourne in 1922.

 

This is a well-used example of a British and Commonwealth Sword, Royal Artillery Officer, Pattern 1822 probably manufactured either prior to or during WW1 judging from its patina and condition. A large and robust weapon, this sword is fitted with a slightly curved etched and plated steel blade in good condition. The Imperial Royal Cypher (GRV ) of King George V (1911 – 1937) is still visible under the period plating and the blade is best described as well used with an aged patina.  The sharkskin/shagrin covered wooden grips are original and are in very good used condition.  The original leather covered wooden Pattern 1822 Field Service Scabbard is in similarly good condition with a worn patina consistent with age and use and the leather sheath covering shrinking from the brass scabbard mouth and the fixing tab now missing. One blade ricasso which would originally have been etched with the manufacturers name now appears blank under the plating .  The other ricasso is characteristically etched with the ‘Damascene’ star and the inset brass Prooved cartouche which on this sword includes a Fleur-de-lis symbol (see pictures).

 

Type : Pattern 1822, Royal Artillery Officers Sword

Overall Length : 1057.0 mm

Blade Length :  894.0 mm

Blade Width (at guard) :  27.0 mm

Scabbard : Leather covered wood, Pattern 1822 Field Service

Overall Length of Scabbard :  920.0 mm

Knot : Officer’s bullion sword knot

 

From Australia, a good well used First World War British and Commonwealth Sword, Royal Artillery Officer, Pattern 1822 fitted with its original Pattern 1822 Field Service Scabbard and fitted with an original Officer’s bullion sword knot . A heavy, robust weapon, this example has everything you look for in a Pattern 1822 Royal Artillery Sword; condition, patina, and provenance.  A good, used First War Pattern Artillery Sword, a variant still in service with the Australian and British Army’s today.
  • Condition: Used
  • Condition: From Australia, a Royal Irish Regiment marked First World War 'hooked quillon' Pattern 1907 produced by Wilkinson in 1909 in excellent original condition. This bayonet is a beaut, an outstanding example of an Regimentally stamped First World War Pattern 1907. You won’t go far wrong with this one and I doubt you’ll better.
  • Campaign: World War I
  • Era: 1910s
  • Product Type: Sword
  • Theme: Militaria
  • Country: Britain
  • Original/Reproduction: Original

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