Swords, York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum

York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum, artefacts, Swords

Musée de la région de Fredericton Épées

The Fredericton Region Museum (FRM) has a good number of interesting artifacts, including an excellent collection of swords from various eras in our history.  These are a few examples.  

(Author Photos)

Sword (1969.2410.1).  Infantry Officer, P1822 Bronze and sharkskin grip. (narrow pipe-backed blade).  A - Sword; B - Metal scabbard with two metal rings. (33)

Sword (1969.2411.1). British Infantry Officer's sword pattern 1822 with "Wilkinson type" blade introduced in 1845.  The sword is engraved with C. Webb 23 Old Bond St, London, and was retailed by Charles Webb who traded under this name and address between 1837 and 1857.  This sword dates to sometime between 1845 and 1857.  

The sword has a brass hilt and butt, sharkskin handle and a crown over Queen Victoria’s cypher on the basket.  There is a Damascus Star (two interlocking triangles denoting a form of strength) on the blade just below the cypher.  The sharkskin making up the grip is most likely Dogfish, the floral pattern on the blade represents the Flowers of the Union.  This type of sword is also known as a 'gothic' hilt pattern due to the arches apparently mimicking gothic architecture.  The sword has a metal scabbard with two rings.

Sword (1969.2412.1).  Katana, A - Samurai sword.  Steel blade, wooden handle covered with rough, beige, sharkskin (grey diamond shapes).  Circular hand guard composed at least partially of iron with inlaid pattern of floral and other designs.  Bottom of hilt has dragon designs. B - Wooden scabbard.  Wrapped in black and white sharkskin.  Black tip and black knob with hole meant to hold a cord. (14)

Sword (1969.2414.1).  Light Cavalry or Artillery Sword with three bar hilt, with non-fullered pipe-backed blade.  Slightly curved, single-edged blade.  Wooden handle covered with black leather and wrapped in gold-coloured wire. Round finger guard.  Klinginthal, 1801, Couloux. (1)

Sword (1969.2415.1).  Light Cavalry Trooper’s P1796 sabre with curved blade. Iron hilt and handle with wooden grip. Raised arabesque design. (6)

Sword (1969.2416.1).  Light Cavalry or Infantry Flank Company. A - sword - sharp curved bade.  This sword is similar to a Georgian Flank Officer's sword. Its 65-cm sharply curved blade is patinated and made with a regulation brass stirrup hilt, with a ribbed and wired wooden grip. It is contained in a metal scabbard with two carrying rings. The sword has a curved, single-edged, non-fullered blade etched with what appear to be Islamic decorations. The diamond etchings may be Islamic, so perhaps in was purchased by a Middle Eastern owner at some point.  Very curious indeed!

Sword (1969.2417.1).  Two-edged short Sword. Indentations running length of blade (two short ones by the hilt, one long one running most the blade's length. The indentations occur on both sides of the blade. Hilt has perched eagle on both sides of the butt. Handle has silver coloured studs on both sides. Handle is gold, scales engraving. Guard is flat on both sides ending circles. Eagle motif on grip. (31)

Sword (1969.2418.1).  Two-edged short sword. Indentations running length of blade (two short ones by the hilt, one long one running the majority of the blade's length. The indentations occur on both sides of the blade. Hilt has perched eagle on both sides of the butt. Handle has silver coloured studs on both sides. Handle is gold, scales engraving. Guard is flat on both sides ending circles. Eagle motif on grip.  (11)

Sword (1969.2419.1).  A - Short saber with broad blade. Brass hilt, guard and butt and black wooden handle. B - Black leather scabbard with brass tip and mouth.  “BATE” on back of blade, and ‘crown over 2’ proof mark on the ricasso.  (12)

Sword (1969.2420.1) [Artifact.  Short sabre. Hilt is bronze coloured with a wooden grip. One-sided guard (back side loops). Square-like finger guard. Single-edged blade. Sharpened towards point of blade (someone sharpened the metal, as the blade is partially double-edged.

Sword (1969.2421.1).  Naval sword and scabbard. Straight, steel blade. Wooden carved handle with black leather strips. Steel hilt and butt. There are five holes in guard. Metal scabbard with two rings for strap. "Osborn and Gunry" etched on balde.  "Wooley, Deakin, Dutton, Johnson" etched on scabbard. (17)

Sword (1969.2422.1).  Bronze handle and hilt.  Rectangular vent on left side of handle reveals hollowness.  Heavily corroded. Sword Bayonet c1810, for use with the Baker rifle. These rifles were used by the Rifle Companies that were partof select battalions of NB militia during the 1820s to 1840s period. The Northumberland militia may have had a rifle company. If so, this sword bayonet was likely used by it. The bayonet is 69 cm(27.25 inches) in length with a 57 cm (22.5 inches) blade.  (Gary Campbell)

Sword (1969.2423.1).  Carved birch handle, hand forged blade. Sides parallel except rounded at tip. Sword almost looks like a machete.  Once the property of Bishop Dollard’s brother. (20)

Sword (1969.2424.1), Epee, fencing. (26)

Sword (1969.2425.1), Epee, fencing. (25)

Sword (1969.2426.1), Epee, fencing. (27)

Sword (1969.2427.1), Epee, fencing, missing handle grip. (24)

Sword (1969.2428.1).  Heavy Cavalry Troopers Sword and scabbard. A - single-edged, broad blade. Wooden handle covered with black leather. Metal hilt with metal finger guard. 360-degree hand guard. Five holes in hilt- possibly decoration or possibly to secure something. B - straight, metal scabbard. Two rings. (22)

Sword (1969.2479.3).  Royal Artillery dress Sword with scabbard. A - Sword, semi-basket guard and gold tassel. Grip is imitation snakeskin with wire winding. Blade is elaborately etched. Scabbard is plain nickel plate. (28)

Sword (1969.2526.1).  Steel blade with etched floral design and crown. Metal hilt bound with sharkskin and wire. Light Cavalry Officer’s P1821. (2)

Sword (1969.2529.1).  Sword has steel blade, circular notched wooden hilt, and heart shaped guard.  “NB # 405” on scabbard.  Etched on blade “Ameria”.  (Unlocated)

Sword (1969.2530.1).  Sword with broad blade. Metal hilt. Handle painted black. Has circular Spanish style hilt of oval hilt guard with floral attachment, broad, circular, 90-degree, shield-like finger guard.  "A & E. Holler Solingen" on blade. "NB # 405" on scabbard. (28)

Sword (1969.2956.1). Infantry Officer’s P1796.  Brass cross guard and hilt, wire handle, steel blade etched with floral design. Hilt on one side swings on hinge. GR (King George III) cipher.  (23)

Sword (1969.2957.1).  Steel blade, broad and curved with etched floral designs.  This is an officer's sabre dating back to the era of the reign of Louis XVI, the revolution period (1780-1795) and the periods of the Directoire (1795-1799) and the (Napoleonic) consulate (1799-1804).  This was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France and its colonies.  The French Petit Montmorency is a type of sabre that was carried by officers of the infantry, i.e. the chasseurs.  It was made in France for use by light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods.  It was used by various troops during the French Revolution until the 1790s, and was also carried in the Netherlands, in the period of the Batavian Republic.  The sabre saw extensive military use in the early 19th century when Napoleon used heavy cavalry charges to great effect against his enemies.  During the Revolution, they were made by many different private makers in an endless variety of designs, but following the same general form.

The FRM’s sabre has a very elaborate hilt and guard made of brass with a lion's head surrounded by leaves on butt, and a grip made of wood covered with leather with wire winding.  It has a slightly curved 82-cmlong broad steel blade of "petit montmorency" type with one cutting edge.  The sabre's  blade is etched with floral designs.  This sabre belonged to Herbert Greene of Saint John.  Mr. Green purchased this and another sword from Colonel Blare of Saint John, under whom Mr. Green had served as a Lieutenant, at some period in the early 1800s.

Sword (1969.3057.1), A, B.  Rifle Regiment Officer’s P1827 (pipe-backed blade). Slightly curved steel blade with elaborate designs, handle of metal covered in shark skin.  VR (Queen Victoria) Cipher.  DODGI.  Marked on blade 3rd Regt Halifax NS Militia.  (19)

This Pattern 1827 Rifle Regiment sword belonged to John Simpson.  He was appointed the Captain of No.2 Rifle Company, 1st Battalion, York County Militia in 1843.  This sword served both as a badge of rank and as a personal weapon.  The Rifle Company was formed in 1827/1828 and disbanded in 1860.  Simpson was also the Queen's Printer, a position that he held from 1829 until his death in 1863.  In the financial sector, John Simpson was the President of the Central Bank of New Brunswick as well as director of the Bank of British North America.  Along with a string of other important titles, he is perhaps most famous for being Fredericton’s first mayor.  He ran on a Law-and-Order agenda, and in 1851, established the Police Force that protects us today. (Gary Campbell)

Sword (1969.3061.1), A, B.  Slightly curved steel blade.  (Unlocated)

Sword (1969.3116.1).  A - steel blade, blue tempered near hilt with floral design; Brass cross guard and hilt, sharkskin and wire handle. B - leather and brass scabbard with two ringed strap. Strap is made up of two leather pieces joined by a brass ring. One leather section is adjustable by length. (16)

Sword (1969.3120.1), A, B.  Straight, heavy Sword with leather covered handle.  Hadley, 1815.  (34)

Sword (1969.3126.1), A, B.  Rifle Regiment Officer’s P1827 (pipe-backed blade). Slightly curved steel blade with elaborate designs, handle of metal covered in shark skin.  VR (Queen Victoria) Cipher.  Marked on blade 3rd Regt Halifax NS Militia.  (Unlocated)

Sword (1969.3137.1), A-D.  Sword has a slightly curved steel blade.  C) Oldest sabbretache known to be worn in the 8th Hussars.  Believed to have belonged to Lt. Col. John Saunders, last worn by his nephew, Lt. Col. H. Montgomery-Campbell when he was Commanding Officer.  (Deaccessioned).

Sword (1969.3243.1) A, B.  A - Sword - ivory handled, Mameluke Sword with slightly curved, single-edged blade with etched floral and crown design. Star of David on one side of blade. Metal and ivory hilt with raised crown and oak leaves. Brass butt has circular hole. Hilt is fastened together by two bolts which are engraved to be flowers. Hilt is a double guard. At its centre is a crest of intertwined streams or designs. Hilt curves to one side at its base.  B - Steel scabbard. Two rings, floral designs. Metal brass piece at the bottom of the scabbard with floral engravings. Main colour looks to be originally silver.  (13)

Sword (1969.3244.1).  French Calvary sabre with leather covered steel and wooden hilt.   Officer’s Light Cavalry (stirrup hilt very similar to British P1788).  French inscription translated means “do not draw me without reason”, “do not sheath me without honour”.

Sword (1969.3245.1 A, B).  A - Dress Sword. Steel blade etched with markings, steel hilt, sharkskin and wire handle, gold cord and tassel tied to hilt. Royal Artillery Officer's with a Wilkinson-type blade. GVR (King George V) Cipher. Likely post- WWI vintage. B - Steel scabbard with two rings. (14)

Sword (1969.3246.1).  Etched steel blade, steel hilt, sharkskin and wire handle. “Henry Wilkinson” and “Pall Mall London” and “Star of David”.  Markings on the blade under three feather crest: “ich dier by appointment”. (9)

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Sword (1969.3247.1).  Infantry, P1822, KG IV, 1830s.  Straight tapered steel blade, brass cross-guard and butt, sharkskin handle.  Hilt is gold coloured.  Guard is only a half-guard. (3)

Sword (1969.3248.1).  A - heavy, broad curved blade with metal cross guard and butt. Wooden covered handle. Squared finger guard that rounds at bottom. B - steel 2 ringed scabbard.  Curved. (30)

Sword (1969.3356.1), A, B.  Sword concealed in hollowed out cane-like wood.  (located on the Bayonet shelf).  Yellow plastic handle, spike blade.

Sword (1973.1.57).  A - Sword - steel blade with ivory and brass hilt, (b) red leather scabbard with brass top and tip, and leather pouch with strap.  “Ames Mfg. Co”; on blade “Chicopes, Mass”; on scabbard: “In Hoc Signo Vinces” (Latin phrase conventionally translated into English as “In this sign thou shalt conquer”. (18)

Sword (1974.3.1).  Infantry Officer, A - Sword; B - Scabbard; C - Belt; D – Strap.  Infantry officer's sword; single edge and two-sided point. Curved handle has tooled leather insert, sharkskin covering and raised bands for firmer grip. Gold filigree trim with British insignia (VR) oval with crown. VR and shamrock. Rose and thistle pattern at lower base of oval shape. Blade has etched floral pattern extending to within 30 cm of tip. B - Scabbard is metal with khaki chamois cover; two rings. C & D - White over-the-shoulder leather sword strap and belt with "S" hook hanging from ring at waist. Royal monogram or cypher on brass buckle.  Blade: "Firmin and Sons, 153 Strand and 13 Conduit St., London".  Strap and belt: "UR," and "New Brunswick Militia," and 'Firmin and Sons, London," and "11".

The 1796 Heavy Cav is perhaps the most famous and clearest examples of hatchet points but proved poor in the thrust, being designed for the melee after cavalry merged with the enemy, so a lot were ground down to have spear points capable of thrusting, particularly for the initial merge.

Sword (1975.4.2).  Sword - spear point, single edged brass protector plates (shells) of which the left one hinges narrow knuckle brow, right side of blade has a floral design.  British coat of arms surmounted by a crown.  On coat of arms: “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PE”, “DIEU ET MON DROIT”, “warrented”, stamped near the hilt: “G.G.”

Sword (1975.4.3).  (No data)

Sword (1975.4.4), A, B.  (No data)

Sword (1975.4.5), A, B.  (No data)

British Officer’s Naval Dirk (1980.10.8).

Sword (1981.2.25).  Sword sling. Two adjustable, leather straps attached to leather pouch, forming a V. Each strap has a brass buckle.  Worn by Lt.-General Sansom. Straps fasten onto Sam Browne Belt and sword is worn through flaps in pouch.  (Unlocated)

Sword (1983.1.1).  A, B.  A - Sword; brass coloured basket with sharkskin grip.  Queen Victoria Cipher.  Gold and scarlet cloth tassel attached.  Crown on both sides with floral design.  Crown crest resting on flowers.  Proved point is gold and makes up centre of flower.  Hilt has a guard that flips up on hinge.  B - Silver coloured.  Metal with two metal loops to attach to sword sling. (Under glass in a display cabinet, 2nd floor)

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Sword (1986.11.1).  1845 Pattern British Infantry Officer's Sabre.  Steel blade, with crown and flat crest.  A: Queen Victoria cypher, "Furmin & Sons, 153 Strand, 13 Conduit St, London". B: Stamped.  Firmin and Sons were located at that specific address from 1856 to 1860 narrowing the date-range for the sword's manufacture.  Firmin and Sons are still in operation.

Sword (1987.3.37).  Handle of sword is all metal with braided design.  Gold cord and toggle.  Straight, metal, silver-coloured scabbard with two rings.  GVR (King George V) Cipher.  Likely post- First World War vintage.  (Unlocated)

Sword (1994.19.17).  German (no data).

Sword (2008.13.1).  Sword, Pattern 1796, Heavy Cavalry Officer's Dress Sword. (34)

Sword (2008.23.1).  A dress or presentation sword.  Complete with leather scabbard, the sword consists of a copper handle with an elaborate hand shield (with a German-type coat of arms on it) and a stainless-steel blade.  A dress or presentation sword, circa 1910 era.  Quite possibly of German origin.  94 cm long, 10 cm wide at the hilt - but 2 cm wide at the blade.  The scabbard is 83 cm long and 2 cm wide.  (Unlocated)

Sword (2012.9.1).  Long, curved French Sword with heavy gold-colored handle. Blade has two grooves and is pointed at edge.  Manufacture national d’armes de Chatelleraut, Julliet 1913, Dragon Me 1892.

Sword (2014.11.1).  Sword with plain basket guard, snakeskin hilt, steel blade, leather scabbard. 16008 on the back edge of the blade, close to the guard. (31)

Sword (2014.13.1).  Sword with basket hilt, long narrow steel blade, ca 1880.

Sword (2014.16.3).  Sabre. Steel blade, broad and curved with etched floral designs.  Very elaborate hilt and guard, brass with leaves and lion's head on butt.

Sword (uncatalogued), Switzerland, Officer's Sword M1899 with scabbard, FRM, 29 May 2020.

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