Colonel Probyn and the Officers of the 11th Bengal Cavalry, 1863
This photo illustrates the great diversity in uniforms that could be found in any given cavalry regiment in Indian following the Mutiny in 1857-58. This diversity extends to the swords used by the officers and men. We can see the three-bar hilt of a Pattern 1821 Light Cavalry Sword, a “Hindu basket hilt” of a khanda or firangi, “mameluke” hilts, non-regulation “Scinde Horse” pattern hilts (scroll hilts), and hilts that are very similar to Pattern 1796 Cavalry Swords.