British Charge of the Heavy Brigade 5th Dragoon Guards Sword, Sold

A Crimean War British Charge of the Heavy Brigade 5th Dragoon Guards Trooper's Sword by Mole, in overall good condition (with battle damage).

With two sets of markings to the 5th Dragoon Guards; an unusual second likely to be a decommissioning date. A lot of debate surrounds what swords were carried by which British cavalry regiments (both light and heavy regiments); some carried the earlier 1821 patterns, others carried the 1853 pattern (which this sword is). And it is often difficult to be able to determine which regiment carried what, especially as some regiments carried a mix of both swords. However, in the painting by William B Wollen of General Sir James Yorke Scarlett leading the 5th Dragoon Guards in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, two troopers can be seen holding swords with three bar hilts, which means the 1853, this pattern of sword.

Now to the markings. The earliest (and typical / traditional) marking is "5 over DG" for the 5th Dragoon Guards, then "C over 4" for weapon 4 of troop C. Now, there is obvious battle to this sword; the guard is pushed in (happens when a cavalryman pushes an opponent), there are period nicks to the cutting edge, the tip area is bent (these swords were notoriously bad at piercing the thick tunics of Russian troops), and the scabbard has a period repair.

Now the second, slightly later markings "5 DG over 1855". This is not a common way to mark a British sword. As these markings are clearly later, they are possibly a decommissioning date (1855 - the Charge of the Heavy Brigade happened on the 25th October 1854) or even be a stores (rack) number, but it is not the date the sword was made or entered service as this is not how British swords we marked.

There is no doubt. This is one of the swords carried by the British Heavy Brigade, a trooper of the 5th Dragoon Guards, during that famous battle.

The 35 1/4 inch period sharpened blade is as previously stated (bent tip, period nicks) and firm in the hilt. The hilt / guard has been pushed in a little but is good / sound (some light pitting). The grips good but with wear. The scabbard with a steady patina is good. The sword sheathes and draws well, if a tiny bit loosely.

A great and evocative sword. Yours for £? (too late, now sold) . Please quote item reference number Q07 (0313). Further / full sized images available upon request.