Scarce British 1796 pattern Light Cavalry sabre made around 1798 by Thomas Gill of Birmingham. The forte bearing his name and trademark “Warranted Never to Fail.” The sabre has a rarely seen elongated, conical hilt variation.
Thomas Gill (1744-1801), was one of the foremost sword makers in the UK at the turn of the 18th Century. Based in Birmingham, Thomas was a vocal proponent of British made swords over those imported from Germany. He went to great lengths to prove that his blades were superior in every way to the flood of Solingen imports. Thomas Gills testing regime was so rigorous that each blade that passed was etched with his name and famous guarantee.
The 826mm curved blade has a flat spine and broad single fuller on each side. The blade flares towards the tip and terminates in a hatchet point. The first third of the blade retains its fighting edge. There are a few minor edge nicks but the blade is in overall excellent condition with a pale and interesting patina.
The variant, beaked stirrup hilt is in excellent condition. The steel is bright. The back-strap has narrow ears and ends in a faceted, conical (beaked) pommel cap. This form of pommel is scarce and may have been an option on early 1796 pattern Gill sabres. The only examples that I have seen before have all been made by Thomas Gill. The ridged wooden grip retains its leather wrap and the twisted silver wire is intact. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sabre is complete with its steel scabbard, which is in overall excellent condition with only small age related marks. The scabbard is complete with its original wooden lining which is firmly in place. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard without rattle or play.
