United Kingdom. A Unique British Indian Army Officer’s Sabre, with Belt and Afghan Embellishments, by Robert Mole

A unique and very well-preserved British Indian Army Officer’s sabre, measuring 91.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 75.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains a sharp tip and lower edge, and with a wide fuller running the length of each side. The spine and obverse ricasso are stamped with the broad arrow marks of the British Indian Army and India Store Department, with an additional mark of “MOLE” indicating blade manufacture by Robert Mole, Birmingham. A Pattern 1896 Mountain Artillery Sabre blade, it sits securely within a customized silvered brass hilt featuring a stylized hand guard, with a blackened and boiled leather handle grip wrapped in original silver wire. A backstrap is decorated with hand-painted black arabesques, which also adorn the guard and pommel. Accompanying the sabre is a matching scabbard, constructed of a boiled brown leather shaft with identical silvered brass painted fixtures secured to both the tip and throat. A downward-pointing hook emanates from the side of the latter for the accommodation of a belt. The former is included, and constructed of multiple pieces of brown leather which retains functional buckles and a storage pouch featuring a functional locking mechanism. Minor issues consistent with age and modification are evident, and include some tarnishing and running marks to the blade, a slight exposure of the tang consequent to the addition of a replacement hilt, minor loss of silver finish to the hilt, and age-appropriate material fatigue to the leather elements. This truly striking sword, customized to a British Officer by a local artisan during the Anglo-Afghan Wars, remains in a near extremely fine condition.