RARE**MATCHING REGIMENT MARKS**Victorian British Army In India North West Frontier Era Wilkinson London Mountain Artillery Pattern 1896 Sword With Scabbard Both Marked ‘7 MN’ To The 7th Battery Mountain Division Royal Artillery Regiment. Sn 21591 Swords

**RARE**MATCHING REGIMENT MARKS**Victorian British Army In India North West Frontier Era Wilkinson London Mountain Artillery Pattern 1896 Sword With Scabbard Both Marked ‘7 MN’ To The 7th Battery Mountain Division Royal Artillery Regiment. Sn 21591 - 21591

The Mountain Division, Royal Artillery, was an administrative grouping of mountain artillery units of the Royal Artillery from 1889. It continued as a distinct branch of the Royal Garrison Artillery until World War I. 7th Battery was based at the Kasi Pashtun tribe ruled area of Quetta near to the NW Frontier border with Afghanistan. In 1876, Quetta was occupied by the British and subsequently incorporated into British India. In 1856, British General John Jacob had urged his government to occupy Quetta given its strategic position on the western frontier. British troops constructed the infrastructure for their establishment. In 1896 a special Pattern of sword was introduced for Mountain Artillery Batteries. This pattern of sword is one of the rarest of regulation patterns and was used by British & Indian troops during campaigns on the North West frontier (see pages 228-230 of Robson's book Swords Of The British Army). This is an excellent original example. The Sword has a 30 ¼” long single edged sabre blade with fullers (35” overall). The blade is clean with no rust or damage. The ricasso is marked With ‘ISD with WD arrow’ mark denoting British production for use by the British Army in India. The blade is signed by the manufacturer ‘Wilkinson London’ & with ‘I with WD arrow mark’ denoting acceptance by the India Stores Depot for use in the Indian Services. Our example has a brass flat bow guard and correct grooved cast iron ribbed grip. The guard is Regiment marked ‘7 MN’ To The 7th Battery Mountain Division Royal Artillery Regiment above weapon number ‘84’. The sword is complete with its original correct leather scabbard with brass mounts. The throat mount with locket has matching Regiment mark and weapon number together with other letters and numbers (illustrated). All stitching & leather of the scabbard are intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21591

£895.00