M1909 Turkish Ottoman Cavalry Sabre and British 1803 Pattern Infantry Sabre
Posted: 16/06/17 (11:59am)I picked up a very nice Turkish WW1 cavalry sabre recently and have just added it to the website. It is only the second time I have managed to find one of these rare sword. The blade of this sabre is very sharp still and shows evidence of having been used in combat. It is easy to imagine this sword being brought back to the UK as a trophy of war from the Suez or Gallipoli.
I am also still working to find out more about the 1803 pattern British Infantry officer's sabre that I bought a while ago. Unfortunately I am still no further forward in finding out who Thomas Lowe was. There are so many individuals of that name that I fear I will not be able to identify the man associated with this sword. I have tried searching for an officer in the British army of the time, have searched for someone associated with the Levant Company and the British East India Company (just in case he wasn't a British army officer but was an officer in one of the private armies of the trading companies), and have also tried to find out if Thomas Lowe was the sword cutler/smith who made or retailed the sword. All to no avail.
The sword is beautiful. It was a very expensive weapon in its day with all the additions/adornments associated with the owner being a wealthy and senior officer. The hilt is ivory and the cyphered guard and lions head pommel are very well and intricately made - some of the cheaper 1803 pattern lions heads look more like dogs and most swords of this pattern have shagreen (ray skin) grips. Ivory was expensive and usually a indicator of seniority amongst officers.
The blade was originally indigo blue with gilt inlay to the engraving. One side shows the name "Tho Lowe" within decorative borders, below trophies of war. Above this are rosettes and ribbons and the Royal Arms bearing the mottoes "Dieu et Mon Droit" and "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense." Above the Royal Arms are engraved the "Flowers of the Union" - rose, thistle and shamrock.
The obverse of the blade is engraved with decorative borders including flowers above which is an engraving of an infantry officer of the time flourishing an 1803 pattern sabre. Above this is the cypher of King George III below a Georgian crown.
The engraving is of high quality with tiny traces of the original gilt remaining.
I would love to hear from anyone who could shed some light on this great sword.
Maybe the engraving of the officer could help identify the regiment?
Does anyone else have a sword bearing the name Thomas Lowe? If so, drop me a line.
