A Prize Sabre for the Newcastle & Northumberland Vol. Cavalry, (Northumberland Yeomanry).
A Scarce Prize Sabre for the Newcastle & Northumberland Vol. Cavalry which was the original name of the Northumberland Yeomanry. Formed in 1819 by Colonel Brandling for the purpose of ‘rendering effectual aid to the civil power in case of disturbance’ the NNVC did indeed have to fulfil this function on several occasions in the early years including the strike riots of keelmen in 1822 when they remained on duty for 21 days and the miners strike of 1831 when they did 31 days on duty, in time such disturbances became less and the yeomanry were retained ‘for the purpose of defence against possible invasion’. They undertook 8 days annual training on the Town Moor and it was probably on these occasions that prize sabres were awarded for competitions or achievements such as best swordsman in a troop or proficiency in training. Prize sabres were often privately purchased and presented to troopers by officers or other benefactors of the regiment. The name of the regiment was changed to Northumberland (Hussars) Yeomanry Cavalry in 1876 and it went on to serve in the Boer War as Imperial Yeomanry where, along with Durham, Northumberland provided more volunteers than any other district and saw extensive service and in the First World War where the regiment was one of the first territorial units into active service and saw at action at First Ypres and many other engagements on the Western Front and at Gallipoli and other campaigns in the Middle East.
1821 pattern cavalry sabre with bright single edged blade double edged at the point, cut with a long fuller running along the back-edge, decorated with royal arms, scrolling foliage and, ’N.N.V.C. PRIZE SABRE’ on a scroll, regulation steel hilt, with wire bound fish-skin grip, in original steel scabbard with two suspension rings. The fullered ‘Wilkinson’ type blade indicates a date after 1845 but the lack of a proof slug and the style of the etching suggests a relatively early date of perhaps about 1845-50.
Dimensions:
Blade Length: 35.5 Inches (90.10 cm)
Overall Length: 41 Inches (104.10 cm)
£550.00
1 in stock
