Major-General Sir Denis Pack K.C.B's Sword, Waterloo Provenance For Sale

This is 100% one of Major-General Sir Denis Pack K.C.B's military campaign Swords, it is virtually guaranteed to have been the one worn by him at Waterloo (Denis Pack was one of the most important allied generals at Waterloo).

If you do not know who Major-General Sir Denis Pack was or how important he was at several battles most notably Waterloo, an excellent summary exists here: Denis Pack Epitaph.

Facts / Provenance
This sword came from Christies, London. I have written statements from them the sword is known to have come from the Pack family home, that it was the property of Major-General Sir Denis Pack. This "pattern" (type, model) of sword was worn by British army general staff from 1803 to 1816 (see: Robson's Swords of the British Army). I purchased two swords from Christies which have both been period marked to Denis Pack after the event (his name was added after). The markings are sure to have been done by Denis Pack's family after the fact, probably just after his death. The markings on the two swords I bought have clearly been done by the same engraver (not least as the style is the same and because he spelt "Dennis" with two n's, not one).

The other sabre I bought from Christies is a 1796 Pattern British infantry officer's sword "incorrectly" marked "Captain Dennis Pack 5th Drgn Guards"; Dragoon Guards are cavalry, not infantry (see: Lt Col Denis Packs Infantry Officer's Sword). Denis Pack served with both the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards until the 6th December 1800 when he took up his appointment as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 71th Highlanders. This fact is important as it shows the Pack family marked his swords according to the receipts he held for them / their recollections of the facts, without knowing they were marking an infantry sword to a cavalry regiment, they simply marked the swords according to what they knew were Denis Pack's rank and regiment at the time he bought the swords.

Had this been done outside the Pack family in more recent times, it is wholly unlikely such mistakes would have been made.

This provenance is important for this particular sword, to place it at Waterloo, as the inscription is "Sir Dennis Pack"; Dennis Pack was knighted for his heroic efforts during the Peninsula War; this sword therefore post dates his time on the Iberian Peninsula. This sword also critically is in a steel field scabbard; it is a sword bought by General Pack to be worn on a battlefield and therefore very likely was. Given there were no other swords from the Pack residence which could be a contender for the one he held at Waterloo, this one has to be the one carried by him on that most important day.

The blade is original though quite unique in its form; it is a plain blade of the design I have seen on several officer's fighting swords; it clearly has been made for potential combat use, not for show. I know the blade is original a) because it fits the period scabbard so well and b) because the scabbard has a repair to it; if the blade had been damaged and replaced, the original scabbard would not have fit so well and they would of course have replaced the scabbard at the same time. The blade's construction with the small single fuller and bulbous form is commensurate with 1810+, not earlier. Given general staff swords were regulated (a single design mandated) after Waterloo and this boat shell pattern was not the approved pattern (see Robson), the sword almost certainly dates from 1810 to 1815.

So 99% I can state hand on heart this sword was the one worn by Major-General Sir Denis Pack K.C.B. during the 100 Days War, at Waterloo. This sword may also have been with him during the earlier equally important Peninsula War against Napoleon on the Iberian Peninsula (for which he was knighted and awarded the Portuguese Military Order of the Tower and Sword). 100%, this sword was carried by Denis Pack during at least one of his famous battles. It most likely was carried by him both at the Peninsular and 100 Days Wars.

Copies of statements (including emails) from Christies London can be made available to serious purchase enquirers.

The sword is in generally very good condition (damage / repair to scabbard previously noted). The hilt's gilt is worn / tired (can be regilted - happy to provide details of specialist company who can do this for you). The grip is original and good; for me to hold the same grip which probably has particles of Pack's skin, sweat and perhaps even blood (he was wounded many times during the 100 Days War as he commanded from the front line) in its crevices makes holding it even more evocative. The blade is in very good order and firm in the hilt.

The price for this sword is £10,000. Further / full sized photos / further information available upon request. Item reference number 314 / Box42-1m. Denis Pack was also awarded the Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of Wladimer, and of the Imperial Austrian Order of Maria Theresa for his bravery and military victories over the French Imperial Army. You simply do not get an opportunity of a sword like this from such an important general every day.