This British 1822 pattern, George IV infantry General Officer’s sword was the property of Major General John Dun of the British East India Company. John Dun was born in Selkirk, Scotland on the 20th July 1781. He joined the Honourable East India Company army as a Lieutenant in 1799.
The British East India Company had its own private army and in 1838 Colonel John Dun (a General at the time of his death) was the officer commanding the 54th Battalion Bengal Native Infantry, later to become infamous for their role in the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
The 814mm pipe-backed blade terminates in a quill point. The blade is mostly un-etched except for a panel on either side, depicting the faint crowned and laurelled Royal cypher of King George IV. The forte bears a worn maker’s name that appears to read “Gill, Warranted.”
The blade is in excellent regularly polished condition with minimal age related discolouration. The edge was period and professionally service sharpened.
The 1822 pattern brass Gothic guard has a working folding section and bears the Royal cypher of George IV. The guard retains its original gilding. There is use related wear to the gilding on the acanthus patterned back strap. The shagreen wrapped grip is in good condition with the wiring intact and tight. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its gilded brass scabbard with twin suspension rings. The scabbard is engraved with the owners rank, name and address, with the later addition of the date and year of his death. General John Dun died of Typhus on the 2nd February 1845.
The scabbard is in generally good condition with some shallow, use related denting along the back edge and inside of the lower third.
This is a beautiful and rare sword, named to a General in the army of the British East India Company (EIC). Copious records exist of the EIC and its military officers, allowing full research into the life and military career of General John Dun.
