Swords sold by H S King & Co, Cornhill

[acanthus]

Hi,

Can anybody cast any light on the firm of H.S. KING & CO., CORNHILL., they were certainly active in the period of circa 1876-1880 and may well have had trading interests in Indian.

Any information on their location and/or trading association with merchants or agents in india (If that be the case?) would be much appreciated; only known products associated with their name are light cavalry type swords combining a three-bar guard with a 1796 style light cavalry blade.

Gordon

[Jonathan]

Using Google Books, I found several references to this company:

List of members By Institute of Taxation, Institution of Civil Engineers (Great Britain)-1896

HS King & Co 65 Cornhill EC За Victoria Street SW

Journal of the Institute of Bankers By Institute of Bankers (Great Britain)-1887

No 155 was occupied by Messrs Smith Elder and Co in 18G7 who have since become Messrs HS King and Co who still carry on their business at this house.

They appear to have been involved in publishing or book sales and are referenced as agents for the sale of books published by the Superintendent of Government Printing, India.

And another hit, this one from London Gazette Issue 27529 published on the 25 February 1903:

Sir Henry Seymour King, K.C.I.E., M.P.

Names of Places where the Business is carried on.
Place.
65, Cornhill

County.
London

This is a very curious trail...

[acanthus]

Indeed a curious trail.

A particular type of Indian Army pattern sword of which there are a number of examples, bear the etched shield on the blade confirming that the swords were manufactured for H.S. King & Co., CornHill. (Three-bar guard, typical Indian type back piece and pommel and Paget style blade)

The marking reads as follows:
MANUFACTURED
FOR
H.S. KING & CO.
CORNHILL
BY
E. THURKLE
SOHO,LONDON

As yet I have not noted any examples with India Goverment (ISD) markings however, at least one example bears regimental numerical markings on the hilt and has been fully sharpened in the Indian military fashion, which is fully sharpened from the beginning of the edge profile to the point.

From my own research so fare, I keep coming up with some links between H.S. King & Co and other firms in India; it is my guess that they had trade connections in India who required the supply of swords for the local market, but as yet have no proof.

Any further expansion on this theory will be appreciated.

Gordon

[Jonathan]

Gordon,
Maybe researching the owner, Sir Henry Seymour King, will shed more light on the matter. For example, here is a wikipedia article on him that mentions ties to India and the nature of his business:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Henry_ ... st_Baronet

If you do a google search using his name in quotes ("Sir Henry Seymour King") there are many results.

Best of luck!

Jonathan

[acanthus]

Jonathan,

Thanks for the good work, these references prove quite conclusively that H.S. King & Co had strong merchantile interests throughout India, and ivolvement with a firm (and take-over of a firm) who were East India agents at a slightly earlier date; as far as I am concerned, this supports the fact that these swords were a product made for the Indian market and not British Coast Guard swords as I once saw them described as.

More to the point, it might now explain why most? known examples don't have any government markings, possibly having been sold as second option swords (or fighting swords) on the local market from one of the company's outlets.

It would be very helpful to hear from any other members who may own examples of this particular sword, noting any particular markings other than the etched trade marking of E. Thurkle and also adding any relevent information they might have.

Gordon

[acanthus]

Jonathan,

Additional to the etched Thurkle blade marking already mentioned, there is the RBG stamp on the ricasso, this mark is also common to some other swords of the Indian Mountain Battery pattern; my own mountain battery sword has the RBG stamp on the ricasso and the mark of Mole on the back edge of the blade.

The blade pattern of the mountain battery sword is the Paget pattern, of near identical shape and size to the Wilkinson and Mole marked cavalry troopers swords of the WW1 period, and would suggest that in fact the blades are of possible Solingen manufacture for the British trade. Strictly speaking, the blade on the Thurkle marked sword is slightly longer and of a slightly different profile, although still being of the 1796 style, but having said that, we have two swords of different patterns, one by Mole and one by Thurkle and both have exactly the same RBG mark on the ricasso.

Gordon

[Jonathan]

Gordon,
I am glad I could be of help. Are you also attempting to track down the maker behind the RBG swords?

Jonathan

[Matt Easton]

Linking these threads for future reference:
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25408
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showth ... p?t=103849

Matt

[acanthus]

Hi all,

The identity of the firm who is behind the RBG trademark is now an all important fact in terms of the study of Indian Army Cavalry swords; if anyone can help indentify this mark, I would be really happy!

Gordon

[Jonathan]

From The India List and India Office List for 1902:

[Will Mathieson]

Jonathan, great image.
Here are some pics of a sword.


blade is heavier than the 1796p and thicker, regimentally marked on the pommel or guard below finnial. Fishskin covered grip.