British Mameluke Sword for a Royal Equerry to George V
Curved, single fullered, hatchet-pointed blade with false edge and stepped spine. Blade 32 inches (81.3cm) in length, 37 inches (94cm) overall. Mameluke hilt cast with decorative leaves and inset with the crown and cypher of King George V. Ivory scale grips, brown leather washer, red & gold parade knot. Nickel-plated iron scabbard with simple throat piece held by screws, two brass bands of rosette form with hanging rings held by a screw, brass chape piece cast with a leaf design held by two screws.
The blade is etched with foliate and flower motifs, the crown & imperial cypher of King George V ‘GRI’ and victor’s laurels. A plated brass proof slug in inset at the ricasso on one side surrounded by an etched six-pointed star. At the ricasso on the other side is etched the maker’s mark ‘J R Gaunt & Son Limited Late Edward Thurkle London & Birmingham’.
These uncommon swords were part of the dress uniform of royal equerries – military officers selected to serve as personal attendants and assistants to the monarch, similar to an aide-de-camp. It was considered a tiring, difficult but highly prestigious duty. The term originated from their equestrian role controlling the royal stables, but over time this became a separate job and from 1825 this was done by the ‘Crown Equerry’ alone.
Equerry’s swords are of the ‘mameluke’ style, similar to those of staff officers or Lord Lieutenants but with the monarch’s cypher inset in the hilt to signify direct service to the crown. See Bonhams sale of 13 June 2016, lot 1078, for a similar Queen Victoria example, Olympia Auctions sale of 29 June 2022, Lot 322, for an identical example for King Edward VII, and Bonhams sale of 5 Dec 2012, lots 197 & 198, for two further identical George V examples.
George V reigned from 1910 to 1936 and would have had three equerries at any one time, with a number of ‘extra equerries’ in reserve, usually retirees from the position. Senior royals including the Queen, George’s four sons (once they were old enough to assumed royal duties) and Prince Arthur of Connaught also had one equerry each. I am unsure how many equerries the King had in total throughout his reign, but the number would not be high. Today equerries serve on a fixed three-year term, but at that time terms were more flexible and some were very long-serving: the longest being Sir Bryan Godfrey-Faussett who served as George’s equerry when he was still a prince and remained in the role until George’s death.
J R Gaunt was a military outfitter which began producing swords in 1897 when it bought out Edward Thurkle and Sons, the Thurkle dynasty of cutlers having produced swords continuously since 1749. One of Edward Thurkle’s sons, George, set up a rival business of his own and Gaunt may have felt pressed to make clear in his advertising that only his operation was the direct successor. The proof slug on the blade is the same as that previously used by Thurkle, reading ‘Proved’ surrounding a letter ‘T’ – Gaunt kept the same mark after his acquisition to retain the pedigree. Gaunt ceased manufacturing swords in 1942 and shut down altogether in 1969.
Some movement to the hilt. One of the ivory grip slabs has a chip next to the hilt. One finial very slightly bent forward. The sword knot has some fraying where it threads through the hilt. The nickel plating of the scabbard has flaked in some areas exposing patinated iron.
Due to the ivory used in the grip, this sword cannot be exported from the UK. It has been declared and registered as antique ivory under the provisions of the UK Ivory Act and therefore can be sold within the UK. Please note that this is a one-time registration: if you purchase this sword and wish to resell it you must register it again.
