EL7245 - A very scarce Indian Hospital Corps style hanger. Featuring a 26 inch 'Paget' style blade, like a scaled down 1796 light cavalry sabre, the ricasso features the 'I' stamp showing that this was proved and accepted for Indian Army service. The style of hilt is sometimes assigned to the Hospital Corps in British service, but not with this style of blade, and there remain many questions about which branches of service were carrying which exact versions of these late-Georgian and early-Victorian hangers. It's possible that these were infantry, garrison or artillery sidearms. Given the 'I' stamp, rather than ISD, I feel that this dates to around 1850, and it has been well service sharpened. The blade in fairly good condition, with some light pitting, firm in the solid brass hilt with no movement, and the brass all in good shape. There is a further engraved marking on the guard, presumably a rack/soldier number.
