4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards cavalry sabre, 1890 model, British (1890)

Title	4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards cavalry sabre, 1890 model
Nationality	British
Period	1890

Sold

MAGNIFY

This is an Enfield-made sabre with issue dates for 1891, 1893 and 1894 on the forte and 7/1900 on the scabbard throat. The guard is marked 'Y // WTS // 4 // DG' for Wiltshire Yeomanry and 4th RI DG, the latter being cancelled with three strokes. The 4th RI DG embarked for India in 1894, still serving there in 1903.

The yeomanry units were always issued with obsolescent equipment: typically, when the line regiments (in this case, the 4th RI DG) were re-equipped with the 1899 model sabre, ie the next pattern, the older weapons were then re-issued to the yeomanry (in this case the Wiltshire). The Witshire Yeomanry served in the Boer War and also in the early years of WW1 in a mounted capacity.

The sword and scabbard were covered in old dried grease when I found it, all now carefully removed and given a good hand polish. To give an idea of the original condition, I left the dried grease on the inside of the grip. The scabbard and guard have a matching rack number (280), in all probability for the Wiltshire Yeomanry, as another number, 241, has a cancellation stroke through it (presumably this being the rack number for the 4th RI DG).

One side of the blade (which is 34.5 inches long) has virtually all its original factory polish; the other is OK but has traces of scarring from old spider rust.

The leather grips are in exellent shape, with a few bald patches on the obverse scale from wear and tear. I replaced the buff leather washer at the forte.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Edged Weapons : Swords : British : 19th Century]

online museum

account

testimonials