Original British Crimean War P1854 Officer’s Infantry Sword with Brass Colonial Scabbard – V.R. Marked Original Items

Original Item. Only One Available. The Crimean War of 1852 until 1856 was essentially the confrontation of Imperial Russia with the Ottoman Empire based in Turkey, supported by an alliance between Great Britain and France. The Europeans did not want Russia with an access to the Mediterranean Sea, which would allow them increased influence in the region. As with most Wars it was imagined it would be over in short order but the distances involved to the Crimea on the Black Sea and the brutal conditions on site caused terrible illness with great loss of life.

In battle things got worse through sheer inept command, culminating in the disaster that is now known as the “CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.” A massive British defeat. Fortunately the Russians fared no better and after four years, hostilities were terminated essentially awarding Victory to the Allies.

However lessons were learned and one minor one was that under inclement weather conditions, both hot and cold, steel scabbards deteriorated far more swiftly than brass ones. The biggest lesson of the Campaign was the use of an Official Medical Corp to deal with wounds and illness in the field. This was largely brought about by the “LADY WITH THE LAMP” Nurse Florence Nightingale.

Here we offer a Pattern 1854 Officer’s Sword fitted with an embossed/engraved blade with Royal Cypher and proof touch mark. The Brass Branch Guard bears the Royal Cypher of Crown over V.R., and the grip is brass wire bound leather. The cypher is also seen on both sides of the 33 inch long blade, which appears to have been nickel plated at some point, now slightly degraded in areas. The Sword is 38 1/2 inches long overallcomes in its ALL BRASS field Scabbard, which after the CRIMEAN WAR became known as “Colonial” issue. By the close of the Victorian era field Scabbards had all become wood covered leather and Parade Scabbards were usually plated all steel scabbards. Brass scabbards were by that time out of favor due to the fragile nature of the metal.

So this is a British Infantry Officer’s P-1854 Sword complete with it’s all brass scabbard for field use. Some deterioration to the nickel plating to the blade and very light dimples to the brass scabbard. Otherwise in nice display condition.