page_title: Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers / Design
caption_attribution_description: English: British Pattern 1831 sabre for the rank of major general and above. A sabre of mameluke type with ivory grips and brass scabbard. This particular sword is mid-Victorian and was retailed by J.B. Johnstone of London and Dublin, who were tailors and military outfitters. Detail of hilt.
context_page_description: The Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers is a British army pattern sword prescribed for the use of officers of the rank of major-general and above. It has been in continuous use from 1831 to the present. It is of a type of sword described as a mameluke sabre.
context_section_description: The 1831 pattern general officer's sabre was directly influenced by existing mameluke swords worn by officers of various cavalry regiments. It differs from the levée sword of the 3rd Light Dragoons only in very minor elements of decoration.
  The hilt and blade retain many features of the Turkish kilij from which it was derived. These include the simple cross-guard with two opposing langets and the down curving 'pistol-grip' shaped pommel; the blade retains the yelman false-edge and the step to the back of the blade (latchet) close to it. As a dress sword, it is of relatively lightweight construction. The weight of the sword is about 1 lb 10.5oz (751g) and the scabbard about 1 lb 1oz (482g). The 31 inch-long (79 cm) blade is slab-sided and of a 'V' shaped cross-section, it is double-edged for its last 12 inches (the yelman) and comes to a relatively acute asymmetric point. The flat sides of the blade afford a large area for decoration. This decoration, of acid-etching (often described as 'frost-etched'), varies greatly between makers but usually includes: a crossed baton and sabre, the monarch's monogram under a crown, and sprigs of oak or palm (or both). Acanthus leaf and scrolling plant motifs may also be present. Many blades were produced with a reserved section where the purchaser could have his initials or family crest added.
  The hilt has a cross-guard with its écusson decorated with an oak leaf and acorn civic crown containing a crossed baton and sabre. The hilt elements (guard, grip scales and strap) are held together and attached to the blade tang by two bolts hidden by brass rosettes. The prominent sword-knot hole has bushing in two parts which also screw together, adding to the solidity of the hilt. All the metallic hilt elements are of gilt-brass. The grip scales were originally of ivory, either elephant or mammoth, but in late Victorian times synthetic ivory-substitutes (such as 'ivorine') began to be used. Recent and modern swords were/are only produced using synthetic ivory.
  The 1831 sabre was initially produced with two scabbards, a black leather scabbard with elaborate gilt mounts intended for lévees and evening functions and a brass scabbard for all other occasions. In practise the leather scabbard was soon dispensed with and the brass scabbard used universally. The brass scabbard has wood liners, two cross-shaped mounts for loose suspension rings and a square toe with a vestigial shoe/drag. In 1898 the brass scabbard was replaced by a steel scabbard of the same form.
  The pattern was also adopted for field marshals, royal equerries and lords lieutenant of counties, with only minor differences in decoration. The cross-guard écusson decoration of crossed baton and sabre is replaced by two crossed batons for field marshals, royal equerries employ the monarch's cypher and lords lieutenant use national symbols appropriate to their county (rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Northern Ireland and 'Prince of Wales' feathers' for Wales).
caption: Hilt of the Pattern 1831 sabre. This sword has grip scales of mammoth ivory.
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