EL6555 - A lovely and fascinating fighting sword, comprising a Victorian heavy cavalry hilt, married to a Georgian etched hanger blade (26 inches), housed in an Indian scabbard. There are only two discernable dating clues to this marriage, the first being the Georgian blade (perhaps around 1780ish) and the heavy cavalry hilt, which is pre-1896 due to the backpiece style, but probably late-Victorian (my guess would be 1880s). I'd therefore presume that this sword was put together in the 1880s and done professionally, as the pommel checkering is perfect and the blade solid in the hilt. The scabbard is clearly made specifically for this curved 26 inch blade. The blade is sharp and although now obscured by patina and a little light pitting, has etched floral decoration all over it. In this period it was not very unusual for British and Indian officers to be experimenting with sword designs, and re-using old sword blades. I consider this sword fits into that context and due to the length was probably carried on campaign by an infantry officer, for example in Afghanistan. A great little sword.
