British 1848 P (RHG) 2nd Life Guard Trooper's Sabre For Sale

An exceptionally rare 1848 pattern Royal Horse / 2nd Life Guard trooper's sabre with Battle of Tel el-Kebir provenance.

This is a) the mother of all British Victorian heavy cavalry sabres, b) one of the rarest and most sought after sabres in the world, and c) has Battle of Tel el-Kebir provenance, one of the most famous British military victories ever. The pattern is a variation of the 1821 P heavy cavalry sabre originally made for the Royal Horse Guards and soon after also adopted by the 2nd Life Guards, to which this sabre is marked.

The massive 39 inch blade dwarfs most others; the standard 1821P heavy cavalry version being "just" 36 inches. Made by Hamburger Rogers & Co this trooper's sabre is of officer quality with fishskin grip (unlike the 1821P it has "ears") and one of the most impressive scabbards you will ever see, of course with the tell-tale special Household Cavalry scabbard suspension bands. Used up to 1882, a large contingent of Household Cavalry made up of all three regiments (Royal Horse Guards, 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards) went with these sabres (the 1st Life Guards had a different pattern) to fight at the famous Battle of Tel el-Kebir; this sabre is reported to be and has obvious signs it was one of them.

The blade has been sharpened along most of its cutting edge and has several tell-tale nicks which indicate it has been used against enemy forces. In a communique dated 24th August 1882, Lieutenant General Garnet Wolseley who commanded the British at Tel el-Kebir stated that the Household Cavalry "with their heavy swords, cut men from from the head to the waistbelt"! A grim thought to some but with the sharpened blade and nicks it means this sabre was sure to have sent a good number of Egyptian soldiers to their graves. The Household Cavalry were so effective and brutal in their action, Tel el-Kebir is one of their so called Battle Honours.

The scabbard is marked to the 2nd Life Guards and sabre number 281. The inside of the hilt shows it was carried by trooper number 5 of F troop.

The blade besides the battle nicks to the cutting edge is in exceptionally good condition and very firm in the hilt. The steel hilt has rusted but could be taken down to the metal (personally I would leave it as it is); I have stabilized all the rust so it is now preserved. The fishskin grip is worn as you would expect from a trooper's sabre which saw a long service life and is thereby a credit to the maker. The sabre sheathes well and holds the scabbard in place when held vertically. This is an exceptionally good condition sabre with rarity and provenance making it one of the most desirable swords on the market. At £2250 I expect it to sell fairly quickly, perhaps to a museum; it is that rare and special. Additional photos available upon request. Item reference number 112 / Box75-1.18m