HC Deb 06 December 1888 vol 331 cc1238-9
MR. HANBURY (Preston)

asked the Secretary of State for War, If he would state to the House what number of Cavalry swords have recently been manufactured by a German firm at Solingen, and how many were accepted, and how many have been paid for, and at what price; how many have since been sent to Enfield Factory to be properly finished or repaired, what percentage of those already examined have there been rejected, and what percentage were there found unable to stand the Government test; whether alterations have been found necessary as to blades, grips, and hilts alike, and what (including the price paid for rejected swords with that of re-stiffening and other alterations) is the price of the swords when finally fit for issue; and, what is the name of the firm in question?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)

20,000 Cavalry swords have been manufactured by a German firm at Solingen, under a contract dated October, 1885. All have passed the test prescribed in the contract, and payment has been authorized at 20s. each. None have been sent to Enfield for either alteration or repair. But, in consequence of the revelations respecting sword-bayonets last year, it was decided to expose these and other weapons to a second and much more severe test. Six thousand six hundred and thirty-five were so subjected at Enfield, the test being far in excess of that specified in the contract. I believe that 1,836 swords failed to pass the new test thus prescribed, and 635 more, which had been in the hands of the troops, were also unable to stand his test. A large proportion of those derived from other sources of supply, and not from this particular firm, also failed. I have since been advised that this experimental test was excessive, and calculated to injure weapons rather than sufficiently try them, and the requirements have been made less severe. The firm whose swords are referred to in this Question is Messrs. Weyersberg, Kirschbaum and Co., of Solingen.

MR. HANBURY

Are there two different kinds of tests in operation, then?

MR. E. STANHOPE

Certainly not; there is only one.