A Scarce British Imperial Police Officers Sword
A Scarce Imperial Police sword, with an 1892 infantry blade and a steel gothic hilt like a Rifle Officers sword but with an IP cypher under a kings crown on the guard and blade. This sword probably dates from the first quarter of the Twentieth Century, it has a good leather clad field service scabbard with scabbard supporting strap (often missing) and Sam Browne sword frog.
Notes:
The Indian or Imperial Police was established in British India 1861 as part of a new system of police administration following the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy War of 1857-59, and was also the primary law enforcement agency in Burma after British conquest of that country which was then governed as a province of India.
Indeed George Orwell, under his real name Eric Blair would have worn a sword like this whilst serving as an officer in the Imperial Police in Burma from 1920-27.
Appointment s of senior officers from Assistant District Superintendent upwards were generally made from European officers of the Indian Army, from 1893 they had to take Indian Civil Service examinations to gain appointment. From around that date officers would have worn this type of sword with 1892 Pattern blade (as used in the current 1897 Pattern Infantry Officers sword).
A year after Indian Independence in 1947 the Imperial Police Service were replaced by the Indian Police Service established by the Constitution of the new federal union of India.
Dimensions:
Blade Length: 33 Inches
Overall Length: 38.5 Inches
£450.00
