[Anne Hines]

Hello All

I am looking for some advice on a sword I recently came across. Having done a little detective work I think it is Scottish in origin and dates to around WW1 and made by Gaunt of London. What is confusing me is the fact that it has a 'Royal Army Medical Corps' mark on the blade. Would it not have one of the Scottish regiments on it?. The total length is Approx 38 inches, the scabbard is 33.5 inches long and the blade is slightly over 32.5 inches long. Any information the Sages on this wonderful forum could provide would be very much appreciated.

Yours in anticipation

Anne

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[Marcus Kwa]

Hi Anne,
The blade and scabbard are very likely not original to the hilt and basket. The blade appears to be single edged whereas the regulation scottish broadsword should have a double edged blade with two or three thin fullers. Also the regulation scottish blades do have a significant ricasso with separate fullers which this blade lacks.
The regulation scabbard did have a distinctive ball termination and not a chape as this scabbard has.

The basket on itself is interresting since it is brass or brass coloured. It is very likely a brass gilt steel basket since it is in very good shape whereas solid brass baskets are easily deformed. Solid brass baskets were maily made for a previous pattern of regulation basket hilted swords and not for the pictured later type.as mentioned these earlier 1798P swords show heavily distorted, badly mangled baskets due to the soft brass. Steel brass gilded baskets are very rare.

Best regards,

Marcus