Original British Brass Hilted Infantry Hanger Sword marked to the 17th Regiment of Foot – circa 1750 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a very nice example of a mid 18th Century British Infantryman’s “Hanger Sidearm” or Short sword. It is typical of the type used during both the French & Indian War, as well as the American Revolutionary War. The brass three bar guard is engraved 1 / 17, indicating that it was from the First Company of the 17th Regiment of Foot. The blade is slightly curved with a single narrow fuller down each side near the spine, and there is an unmistakable British Military acceptance mark punched into one side of the 24 1/2″ blade directly in front of the hand guard. Overall length is 30 inches, and it definitely does show age and use, with a great patina.

The Regiment was originally raised in 1688 by Colonel Solomon Richards, with the expulsion of King James the Second. It saw service in the Wars of the Spanish Succession and helped put down the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 in Scotland at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. In 1751 a royal warrant assigned numbers to the regiments of the line, and the unit became the 17th Regiment of Foot. It traveled to North America in the Seven Years/French and Indian War of 1756 to 1763 and was present at the Siege of Louisbourg in 1758 and the Battle of Ticonderoga in 1759. It played a large role in the U.S. Revolutionary war arriving in Boston on January 1st 1776. It was at the battles of Long Island in 1776, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown in 1777. Also at Guildford Courthouse and the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. Following this in 1782 it was officially designated the 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot.

A very fine example of a British Infantryman’s brass hilted short Sword that probably partook in a good slice of American History. Ready to display!