Publications | Down Survey | 1999 Issue Contents

Swords and Pikes
Noel Hogg

When the museum was commemorating the bicentenary of the Rising of 1798, it seemed an appropriate time to survey some of the weapons in the Down County Museum collection. Published here are those which are classified as modern edged weapons - swords, bayonets, pikes, spontoon and machete. Archaeological objects are excluded. All those specimens which are noted here were generously given as donations to the museum. The first edged weapon to be received was in 1982; this was a nineteenth century sword complete with scabbard. Other types of weapon followed during subsequent years, some as single items, others came as part of a larger donation. Some were complete with scabbards and several had the background information about their original owners. What these weapons were meant to do to other people is an important thing to remember. Remember the blood. However, now and in the future, their purpose will be in the fields of study rather than on the field of battle.

The collection comprises nine swords, one of which is Japanese (with a German blade) dating from the twentieth century, while the other four are British from the nineteenth century. There are twelve bayonets, three of which are from the twentieth century, four from the nineteenth century, and nine from the period 1730-1820. Two pike heads, a spontoon and a machete complete the collection. The background information about each item varies considerably and those details, along with full descriptions, are included in the catalogue below.

A museum of local history, such as ours, holds many collections within its walls. Some are extensive in the number and variety of items, others are smaller in comparison but no less important or interesting. Down County Museum aims to extend this aspect of its collections and it is hoped that more weapons, which have an historical connection with County Down and good background information, will be acquired and future research and exhibitions thereby made more interesting.

Catalogue
Measurements in centimetres. Museum number in brackets.

1 - 5 Swords
l. Sword with scabbard.
Length of blade 85 cms; grip 16 CMS; scabbard 88 CMS Straight, single edged, steel blade, with fullers; wooden grip covered in fish skin and bound with wire. Blade engraved and with words 'Royal North Down Rifles'; insignia of RNDR on the Gothic hilt, attached to which is a sword knot. Manufactured by Johnstone of Sackville Street, London and Dawson Street, Dublin. Late nineteenth century. The sword belonged to Colonel Alexander Gracey (1840-1918), of Ballyhossett, who was in the Royal North Down Rifles. (1985-58/1&2) Gift of Sir John and Lady Anderson, London, formerly of Ballyhossett, Downpatrick.

Sword of the Royal North Down Rifles, detail of hilt. (DCMI98S-58)

2. Sword with scabbard.
Blade 84 CMS; gripl5 CMS; scabbard 85 CMS Pipe-backed, single-edged, steel blade, with slight curve. Wooden grip, covered in fishskin and bound with wire. Blade engraved and with the cipher W. IV, (William IV 1830 - 1837). The Gothic hilt has the same cipher and a leather guard. Manufactured by Hawkes Moseley & Co London (Manufaeturers to the King). 1822 Pattern Infantry Officer's sword. As the shape of the blade had changed and a tang button fitted by 1845, this sword dates between 1822-1845. (1985-142/1&2)
Gift of Dr Campbell M Minnis, formerly of Saintfield.

3. Sword with scabbard.
Blade 47 CMS; grip 16 CMS; scabbard 53 CMS Single-edged, steel blade, with slight curve. This is a Japanese sword with a German blade. There is a space on the lacquered wood scabbard where a small dagger
would have been fitted but this is missing. Twentieth century. (1987-33/1&2)
Gift of Miss Nina Browne in memory of DR R S Browne of Ballynahinch.

4. Sword.
Blade 79 CMS; grip 12 CMS
Single-edged curved steel blade, with fullers, a stirrup hilt guard and langets; bone grip. Cipher 'GR' and probably 'J Runkel' on blade, indicating that the blade was made by the latter at Solingen, Germany. Gilded hilt added later. 1796 pattern sword, phased out about 1815-20. It was of general issue, of the type issued to Yeomanry. This particular one would have been an ofiicer's sword because of the gilding on the hilt. (1987-34)
Gift of Miss Nina Browne in memory of DR R S Browne of Ballynahinch.

5. Sword with scabbard. Blade 80 CMS; gripl7 CMS
Steel blade, hollow ground on all three sides. Cut steel hilt, inlaid with studs. Court sword manufactured by Johnstone of Dawson Street Dublin and London. Late nineteenth or early twentieth century. It belonged to the donor's great uncle, Thomas Hugh Torrens, who was High Sheriff of Antrim in 1903. ( 1994-451/9& 10)
Gift of Captain F M A Torrens-Spence, Drumcullen House, Ballydugan, Downpatrick.

6 - 17 Bayonets
6. Bayonet with scabbard.
Blade 45 CMS; handle l2 CMS; scabbard 46 CMS
Sword bayonet. Double edged steel blade with a high muzzle ring and wooden handle. Epee baionnette model, 1924. Made by Fabrique Nationale Belgium for use with a German Mauser rifle. Metal scabbard contained within a leather frog. ( 1985-93/ 1 &2)
Gift of DR Brian S Turner of Lisban, Downpatrick.

7. Bayonet with scabbard.
Blade 31 CMS; handle 12 CMS; scabbard 32 CMS
Sword bayonet. Double-edged steel blade with wooden handle and leather scabbard. Ownership mark of the War Department on the bayonet. Made for a Lee Metford rifle. Late nineteenth century. (1985-119/1&2)
Gift of Mrs K B Torrens-Spence, Ballydonety, Downpatrick.

8. Bayonet.
Blade 42 CMS; length overall 54 CMS
Socket bayonet. Iron blade, triangular section, hollow ground on two faces. In use during the period 1730-1820. ( 1998-1 1 )
Gift of Mr Thomas Hanna, Downpatrick.

9. Bayonet with scabbard.
Blade 25 CMS; handle 13 CMS; scabbard 26 CMS
Sword bayonet. Single-edged steel blade. Wooden handle stamped 'U.V.F. For God and Ulster'. Beak shaped pommel. Made in Austria from 1873 for a Steyr rifle. This example is early twentieth century. Originally from the house of the donor's wife's aunt who lived at Ballybrannagh in Lecale, and believed by the donor to have been used in the Royal Irish Rifles. ( 1998-8/1 &2)
Gift of Mr Thomas Lascelles, Downpatrick.

10. Bayonet.
Blade 41 CMS; length overall 53 CMS
Socket bayonet. Steel blade, triangular section, hollow ground on two faces. In use during the period 1730
1820. (1998-9)
Gift of Mr K Boyce, Bryansford, Newcastle.

11. Bayonet and two scabbards. Blade 55 CMS; scabbards 57 CMS
Socket bayonet. Steel blade, triangular section, hollow ground on three faces and complete with locking ring. Ownership mark of the War Dept on the bayonet. For use with an Enfield rifle. Nineteenth century. (1998-10/1-3) Gift of Mr F J Maxwell, Ballee House, Downpatrick.

12. Bayonet.
Blade 43 CMS; length overall 52 CMS
Socket bayonet. Iron blade, triangular section, hollow ground on two faces. Eighteenth century. ( 1993-263) Gift of Prof R H Buchanan, Strangford.

13. Bayonet with scabbard.
Blade 17 CMS; handle 13 CMS; scabbard 20 CMS Single-edged steel blade, with the year 1907 stamped on it. Beak-shaped pommel, wooden handle. Manufactured by Wilkinson. This is probably a bayonet which has been cut down for use as a trench knife. Leather scabbard contained in a green webbing frog. (1993-312/1&2)
Gift of Miss Cecily Parkinson-Cumine, Killough.

14. Bayonet.
Blade 36 CMS; handle 14 CMS
Leaf-shaped, single edged, steel blade. Beak-shaped pommel and wooden handle. 'Waffenfabrik, MauserA.G. Oberndorf' on blade. For use with a German Mauser rifle. First World War period. ( 1993-311 )
Gift of Miss Cecily Parkinson-Cumine, Killough.

15. Bayonet.
Blade 44 CMS; length overall 53 CMS
Socket bayonet. Iron blade, triangular section, hollow ground on three faces. For use with an 1876 Martini Henry rifle. (1997-145)
Gift of Mr John Doherty, Kilcoo. (ex Patsy Mullen Collection, Castlewellan)

16. Bayonet.
Blade 40 CMS; length overall 52 CMS
Socket bayonet. Steel blade, triangular section, hollow ground on two faces. In use during the period 1730-1820. ( 1998-6)
Anonymous donation.

17. Bayonet.
Blade 48 CMS; length overall 56 CMS
Socket bayonet. Steel blade, cruciform section, complete with locking ring. Possibly Russian, from around 1871, and used with a Berdan rifle. (1998-7)
Anonymous donation.

18 - 19 Pike heads
18. Pike head. Length of blade 30 CMS; length with shaft 174 CMS
Double-edged, socketed, iron blade, with wooden shaft. The shaft has probably been reduced in length. Found in a house in Killyleagh. (1988-12)
Gift of Mr & Mrs E B Lister, Maidstone, Kent.

19. Pike head. Length of blade 30 CMS; length overall 41 CMS
Double edged, socketed iron blade. (1987-105)
Gift of Mrs Una O'Boyle, Ballyhornan, Downpatrick.

20 - 21 Other items
20. Spontoon head.
Blade 31 CMS; length overall 38 CMS
Double-edged iron spontoon. Issued to the Infantry about 1800, as a symbol of rank given to sergeants, rather than as a weapon. The head was screwed into a socket at the top of the shaft. The bar at the top was intended to stop the blade penetrating a body too far, if used as a weapon. It could have been used in the 1798 Rising period. Thought by the donor to have been found in a drain in Strangford earlier this century. (DB618 1994-426)
Gift of Captain N Brownlee, Strangford.

21. Machete and scabbard. Blade 45 CMS; handle 12 CMS
Single-edged steel blade, with wooden handle. Blade possibly British but the green webbed scabbard is American. Second World War period. Probably belonged to the donor's brother Captain Ralph Parkinson-Cumine. ( 1993-314/ 1 &2)
Gift of Miss Cecily Parkinson-Cumine, Killough.

Noel Hogg, of Newtownards, has been working as a volunteer in Down County Museum for over three years. During this time he has helped to document the collections. He chose to research and publish this group of specimens from the collection as a special project.

Acknowledgement
I am grateful to Mr Tom Wylie of the Ulster Museum for his advice and comments during the preparation of this catalogue.