Scimitar

Scimitar, which belonged to Captain John Croft Hawkins (1798-1851). The hilt of the scimitar is of the 'Mameluke' type. The polished ivory grip is set with four jewelled studs on each side. The sword has an embossed gilt back-piece, gilt quillons and pointed langets. The obverse langet is engraved with the words 'PRESENTED BY His Highness The Imaum of Muscat To'. The reverse langet is engraved with the words 'Captain Hawkins of the INDIAN NAVY, 1829'. The steel blade is very curved. The wooden scabbard is covered with embossed black leather. The scabbard has a plain gilt mid locket with two rings, one of which is now missing. The gilt chape is also embossed. The top locket is now missing.

Captain John Croft Hawkins visited the Persian Gulf in command of the 'Clive' of the Indian Navy, and presumably the scimitar was given to him to mark that visit. Captain John Croft Hawkins (1798-1851) of the Indian Navy became a Midshipman on the 20th October 1812 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 23rd May 1824. In 1830 he was court-martialled and found guilty on a technical charge of piracy. He later received a pardon from the King. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on the 21st May 1831 and made a Captain on the 21st January 1839. He died in 1851.

Object Details

ID: WPN1116
Collection: Weapons
Type: Scimitar
Display location: Display - Traders Gallery
Creator: Unknown
Places: Masqat; Persian Gulf
Vessels: Clive 1824
Date made: 1829
People: Hawkins, John Croft; Indian Navy Sultan, Sa'id Ibn
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 25 x 950 x 115 mm
Parts: Scimitar
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