Name/Title
West Sussex Constabulary hanger sword 1857Entry/Object ID
2530Description
A police style hanger sword, approximately 29.5 inches (75cm) in length with a steel curved blade, brass hilt, pommel and quillion with a "D" shaped knuckle bow and shagreen covered grip. The fullered blade is acid etched, lengthways on one side "West Sussex Constabulary No. 2" and on the other under the hilt "Parker Field & Sons 233 Holborn London". Attached to the hilt is a button released sprung catch. The original wire around the grip is missing as is the leather cushion under the hilt.Use
For a West Sussex Constabulary Victorian police officer to carry for protection.Context
Victorian police officers not only carried wooden truncheons but also had limited access to both swords and occasionally firearms. Swords were issued in some areas for night duty or during times of public disorder and most police forces would have stocks of them for such use, though officers would not routinely carry them. The type of sword used was to a standard design, having a short slightly curved blade and a brass hilt, which was either "D" shaped or straight. These swords are normally called "Hangers" or "cutlasses" and were carried in leather scabbard's with metal mounts at both ends. Often they were marked to identify the police force they came from, in some cases the blade actually being etched. Later examples from the 1850s and 1860s tend to have spring catches attached to the hilts to prevent swords being removed from the scabbard's during a disturbance by anyone other than the officer. Short "hanger" swords were also used by prison officers, and customs officials but they are most commonly associated with the police. By the 1880s most UK police forces had stopped using swords.
This particular hanger is clearly marked as from West Sussex Constabulary and can only date from 1857 at the earliest, the year the force was established. A number of marked West Sussex Constabulary swords are known of, all of which are numbered, to date the highest being "18". When the force was originally inspected in 1857 by HM Inspector of Constabulary it was reported that the it was, "furnished with the correct uniform and appointments including 20 hangers", (Poulsom et al 1987) and there is no reason to think that the example pictured or the other similar numbered examples known of, are not from that original batch of 20. These swords were originally stored at the then HQ at Petworth and as late as 1897 the then new HQ at Horsham, though there is no record of them ever being used in anger (Barrett 2008 pages 11 and 63).
This sword retains its catch to hold it securely in a scabbard, which it would originally have had, made of leather with metal fittings. It was made/supplied by the police equipment company "Parker Field"who used the address 233 Holborn until 1877, though this sword is believed to be from 1857. Of note is the fact that neither the point or the edges have been sharpened, or show any signs of ever having been. This adds weight to the believe that in police use swords were used more as a blunt striking weapon, rather than a cutting or stabbing one, presumably to lower the risk of serious injury to any would be offender.