A rare English Military Hounslow Beast Head Pommel Hanger circa 1630 to 1660

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Price: £3,500

Ref: 42092224

Item Description

English hangers like this one were brought into military service for infantrymen in the second quarter of the 17th century and are thought to have originated in Hounslow in the years before the English Civil War started. The pommels are formed as the heads of beasts and are often made of brass as well as iron. The sword type is rare, and those mounted with iron pommels rather than brass are the most scarce.

The hilt is formed with two upwardly curved shell guards forged onto each side of the cross guard bar. The larger primary guard plate, which protects the outer hand of a right handed user, is chiselled on the outside in typically English 17th century quasi-abstract style. A border is cut around the perimeter inside which a leafy platform of arches is present at the base with a line above. Between this line and the top a panel contains two counter-facing dogs’ heads in foliage with the bust of a man in an oval frame between. The secondary slightly smaller guard which protects the thumb is carved as a clam shell.

Each guard plate joins the cross bar level with the tang aperture and strengthened by two further bars which emanate from each end of the plates to connect with the front and rear quillons. The front quillon curves upwards into a knucklebow from the convergence of these bars, has a flattened swelling in the middle chiselled with a clam in the same manner as that on the guard plate, and terminates at the pommel. The rear quillon is extended and scrolls downwards into a bold fluted wristguard.

The solid iron pommel is forged as the stylised head of a lion facing to the front bearing its teeth. The feature is enhanced with foliate scrolls and tendrils to the sides and rear. The knucklebow terminates in a flattened upwardly angled aperture screwed into the  mouth of the beast. On top the pommel is mounted with an integral ribbed cylinder shaped button. The original fluted  hardwood grip, possibly rosewood, is complete and typical for these swords.  It sits on an iron ferrule at the base from which it tapers slightly to the pommel.

The meaty curved cleaving blade has a thick back edge and is slightly hollow ground. The fine cutting edge shows wear. Some small nicks have been ground smooth and forged back into the flat of the edge. The absence of a saw toothed back to the blade shows that it was made for military rather than hunting or pioneer use.

The blade is just over 25 inches (64 cm) long and overall the hanger is 31 inches (79 cm) long.

The hanger is in good condition overall. The top curve of the knucklebow terminal aperture is missing but holds firm in the bottom half. The grip has a fine diagonal split on one side and is secure.

For further examples of these hangers see Stuart C Mowbray’s “British Military Swords”, Mowbray Publishing, 2013, in the section dedicated to “The Hounslow Beast Pommels” pages 126 to 143. See particularly that illustrated  on page 143 which apart from minor variations has a similar hilt and iron lion head pommel.