This & That Saga and Serendipity. Memoirs and Musings.Prof. Aloke Kumar
Prof. Aloke Kumar
A British General Scimitar sword and scabbard. 1840.

British army pattern sword prescribed for the use of officers of the rank of major-general and above. It has been in continuous use from 1830 to the present. This sword has grip scales of mammoth ivory with gold studs. The decoration of the blade has a crown over the 'VR' monogram of Queen Victoria. These were ceremonially presented to British officers. Some were used as 'walking out swords' (for ornamental wear on social occasions on foot) but others were employed on active campaign. They are prominent in images of officers of the British Hussar regiments painted by Robert Dighton jr. in 1807. As officially regulated dress or levée swords they first appear for lancer regiments. The hilt has a cross-guard with its écusson decorated with an oak leaf and acorn civic crown containing a crossed baton and sabre. The hilt elements (guard, grip scales and strap) are held together and attached to the blade tang by two bolts hidden by brass rosettes.