British 19th Century Police Sword of the West Riding Constabulary
Curved hatchet pointed blade with two narrow fullers close to the spine, one longer than the other. Inset steel leaf spring locking mechanism with circular steel button to actuate. Black leather washer. Steel P-shaped hilt similar to the 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry sword, with forward curving comma-shaped quillon and simple knucklebow with sword knot slit. Steel ferrule, smooth steel backstrap with integral pommel cap, grip of black leather over spiral-carved wood, bound with wire. Black leather scabbard with steel fittings at the throat and chape, the throat fitting with oval frog stud. Blade 24 inches in length, 1.425 inches wide at the shoulder, the sword 28¾ inches overall.
The leather section of the scabbard is debossed with a rose emblem and the letters ‘W.R.C.’. I believe this indicates the West Riding Constabulary, the White Rose of York being the traditional badge of Yorkshire and its constituent Ridings.
Short swords similar to the earlier infantry hanger were issued to British police and prison warders in the Victorian period. The style of this example is a bit of a throwback to Georgian hangers and suggests to me that it may be quite an early piece. Most Victorian police swords feature a shagreen grip, D-shaped guard and a blade with a single long, broad fuller.
They also frequently include a locking catch: this feature was introduced in 1850 to prevent an officer’s sword being drawn by an assailant and used against him as an early form of what is now called weapon retention. This sword doesn’t have one, however the throat piece of its scabbard has been made with a cutout for a locking catch at its mouth, suggesting it post-dates 1850.
The West Riding Constabulary was founded in 1856, bringing together preexisting small forces established in various townships of West Yorkshire. By its early styling this sword might have been part of their initial equipment, perhaps inherited from one of the local forces: every constabulary at that time kept swords in their armoury for major disturbances or when patrolling a dangerous beat.
They did use the more ‘standard’ constabulary sword as well: I have seen an example, with steel hilt, paired with a very similar scabbard (slightly slimmer to accommodate the different blade) that had ‘WRC’ engraved on its throat piece, with no rose emblem.
Most police swords found today use brass hilts and scabbard fittings, versions using steel are scarcer. The choice of materials may have simply been an option offered by the manufacturer, if so the steel would have been more expensive.
The blade is bright, repolished at some point with polishing marks, some light scratching near the tip and spots of cleaned light pitting in places along the edge. Its edge has I think been sharpened in the past but is currently not very sharp. One small nick to the edge. The ferrule, hilt and backstrap have mottled light patination. The leather of the grip is good with only light handling wear. Its wire binding is all intact with slight movement to the loops. The sword is firm in the hand and solidly peened with no movement to any parts, the blade rings when struck.
The scabbard fittings have also been repolished bright and have speckled cleaned moderate pitting overall, plus a few small spots of light patination. Each has a couple of small dents which do not interfere with sheathing and drawing. Because of its curve and slightly flared tip the blade experiences a fair amount of friction on sheathing and drawing. Some abrasion and surface-level cracking to the leather of the scabbard, one shallow gouge on the trailing edge. Its stitching is all intact. One crease next to the chape piece. The leather remains strong, possibly having a wood core for support, and the scabbard can easily support its own weight with the blade withdrawn.
