Black Powder Signal Cannons
Posted: 26/05/17 (15:41pm)Another week has flown by! As always, I haven't managed to finish my weekly "to do" list but I have managed to photograph some of my back log of items for the web site. I will be adding a new stock item each day next week - or at least I've added the adding of new stock to my "to do" list for next week 😉
I mentioned in my last blog that I would write about my P1803 Infantry Officer's Sabre and I still intend to do so. At the moment I've drawn a blank in trying to identify the individual named on the blade. The blade is richly engraved with trophies of war, the GR cypher, floral work, two shields/crests, one with "Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense" (shame on him who thinks evil of it) which is the motto of the Order of the Garter and the other with "Dieu et mon droit," (God and my right), the motto of the Royal Arms of Great Britain. There is also a detailed etching of an infantry man standing about 2 inches tall.
There is no maker's mark as far as I can tell but the name Thomas Love is engraved just above the ricasso and bordered with scrolls and flowers. I have made the assumption that this is the name of the officer who owned the sabre. The ivory hilted sword was clearly the property of a wealthy and probably senior officer during the Peninsular Wars. I am very keen to identify him and learn his story.
As promised, I have listed the two signal cannons and thought I'd add a photo of each to this blog.
