TOPIC:

I recently acquired an 1890 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's sword from the 10th Hussars. The "/90" on the back edge of the blade shows that it's an 1890 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's sword. This was in use in the cavalry from 1890 to 1899, and in supporting arms (Horse Artillery, Army Service Corps, Yeomanry) for a few years longer. The "'94" on the ricasso indicates manufacture in 1894, and the mass of inspection and re-inspection stamps show that this was issued and re-issued from stores several times in its working life - the range appears to be between 1894 and 1898. The "10 H" marking on the inside of the guard indeed indicates ownership by the 10th Hussars (10th Hussars, sword 505). The "11/94" stamp by the handle confirms the 1894 manufacture date. The "WD" stamp on the outside of the guard shows that the sword was purchased by the War Department under official contract. The "X" stamp on the ricasso shows that the sword had passed a "bend test", and in which direction. I believe it to be made by Enfield as all the re-inspection stamps are by Enfield. I would like to know where the 10th would have been in service during the period '94 to '98, regards Craig

Somerfield,

That's a very precise description of the sowrd. I wish I had your level of understanding of these things.

Had a quick look for the 10th Hussars. Before the Boer War, the last foreign service they saw was in the 1880s in Egypt. In 1903 they were in Mhow, Bombay but I'm not sure where they were before the Boer War.

Regards
David

1890 Ireland: Dublin
1893 Cahir
1894? Ballincollig
1895 Newbridge
1897 England: Canterbury
1899 at sea ship: Ismore (wrecked in St Helena Bay), transferred to Columbian
1899.12 South Africa unbrigaded
1900.02 South Africa 2 Cav Bde
1903 India: Mhow

Hope to find out more on where the 10th were during the working life of the sword which would have been 1890 to 1899 , when in '99 the new pattern was introduced.