Military Sword of Capt. Thomas MacMicking (McMicken) 1812-1814

Description

Sponsors

This item is a part of the 1812 History digitization project. This project was made possible with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy.

Media Type

Object

Description

A sword made of solid brass but the grip has been embellished with tightly bound silver wire. The pommel and joints of the handle have scroll work and engravings. The brass hilt also has scroll work and folds down on one side to allow for easier carrying on the hip when it is in its sheath. The steel blade has fine scroll engraving and text down the blade. “Sword used by Capt. Thomas MacMicking (McMicken) of the 1812-14, 2nd Lincoln Militia”.

This is a British Army Officer’s sword pattern 1796. According to the Clothing Act of 1768, all Officers of his Majesty’s army were to wear the same pattern of sidearm, that being the sword. Until that notice, officers of individual regiments had taken to wearing a certain style which would differentiate them from the officers of another regiment, some wearing sabres, others scimitars, others cuirasses. The universal pattern did much to do away with that sort of individuality, although the men still added their own touches to the swords. Some wore them with steel handles instead of the gilt or silver that the clothing warrant demanded, still others changed the entire sword around to suit themselves, as this one has been. The guard on the left hand side folds down so that the wearer might have more freedom of movement, the entire weapon being much closer to the body. The blade on this sword was originally blued and has been engraved as well; in the midst of flowers and laurel leaves are a lion, unicorn and coat of arms bearing the inscription: “Honi Soit qui mal y Pense”, or “evil be to him to evil thinks” and the logo: “dieu et mon droit”, or “god and my right”.

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