SOLD. A Very Good Early WW1 Issue 1908 Pattern British Cavalry Trooper's Sword With Original Camouflage Paint
Made by Wilkinson Sword. With its latest inspection ordnance stamp, Enfield 1915. Excellent bright blade in superb condition. Hilt with traces of original regimental stampings on the inner guard. We believe they are for the 6th Dragoon Guards, 'the Carabiniers' but they are partially obscured beneath camouflage paint and we are loathe to remove it. First World War
In August 1914, the 6th D.G, deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served throughout the First World War (1914-18) on the Western Front, fighting in many engagements in both a mounted and infantry role. These included Mons (1914), the Marne (1914), the first two battles of Ypres (1914 and 1915), the Somme (1916), Arras (1917), Cambrai (1917) and Amiens (1918). 6 DG remained as mounted cavalry throughout the war, but there were occasions, notably during March/April 1918, when they did duty in the trenches or helped stem an attack. For these occasions they were dismounted temporarily. An original sword as can be seen used to incredible effect in the magnificent epic, by Steven Spielberg, 'Warhorse'. An antique original issue trooper's sword with full ordnance markings, used in the frontline British cavalry regiments during WW1. With original camouflage. The current Cavalry pattern used by all forms of the current British Cavalry. Considered to be the best designed cavalry sword ever made. In exceptionally good condition, a superb collector's item from the finest cavalry in the world. Painted steel basket, excellent steel blade and original Wilkinson Sword combat service camouflage painted steel scabbard, traditional service issue hardened rubber grip with crosshatching. Early in WW1, cavalry skirmishes occurred on several fronts, and horse-mounted troops were widely used for reconnaissance. Britain's cavalry were trained to fight both on foot and mounted, but most other European cavalry still relied on the shock tactic of mounted charges. There were isolated instances of successful shock combat on the Western Front, where cavalry divisions also provided important mobile fire-power. Beginning in 1917, cavalry was deployed alongside tanks and aircraft, notably at the Battle of Cambrai, where cavalry was expected to exploit breakthroughs in the lines that the slower tanks could not. At Cambrai, troops from Great Britain, Canada, India and Germany participated in mounted actions. Cavalry was still deployed late in the war, with Allied cavalry troops harassing retreating German forces in 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive, when horses and tanks continued to be used in the same battles. In comparison to their limited usefulness on the Western Front, "cavalry was literally indispensable" on the Eastern front and in the Middle East. It had a considerable amount of long term storage gloop covering all its metal surface but it has spent 3 weeks in the conservation workshop to gently remove the outer detritus but leave the original hand applied WW1 trench warfare camouflage paint [now slightly darker with age]. AYO