EL6187 - A British 1821 pattern light cavalry troopers' sword and scabbard, marked to the 9th Lancers and dated 1840. Together with the service sharpened blade, this puts the sword firmly into the Sikh Wars. The 9th Lancers were based in India at the time and took extensive part in the wars against the Sikh Khalsa. The sword is in overall average condition, considering the age and probable campaign life. The blade is bright and in good shape, service sharpened and firm in the hilt. The guard and backstrap have some very light pitting, but are generally also in good shape. The grip is rather worn, with only about 70% of the leather covering remaining to the wooden grip and some stable splitting in the wood (though it all seems quite sound, it should probably be stabilised in the future). The scabbard is engraved with the regimental designation, date and the troop/trooper code, with light pitting all over and the throat is missing and the drag is worn through. Overall a good example of an increasingly hard to source pattern, with good regimental history and genuine wear and tear related to a tough military life, but still in reasonable condition.
