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Sold for: £80
A British Pattern 1897 Infantry Officer’s sword featuring a straight, single-edged thrusting blade with a deep central fuller. The blade is heavily etched with floral scrolls, the Royal Cypher for King George V (GR V) surmounted by a Tudor crown, and the Royal Coat of Arms. The hilt features a nickel-plated steel three-quarter basket guard with a pierced foliate design, incorporating the George V Royal Cypher. The grip is composed of shagreen bound with triple-strand wire, complemented by a nickel-plated steel backpiece and pommel featuring a textured cross-hatched thumb rest. The sword is accompanied by its leather field service scabbard, featuring a nickel-plated throat and a leather suspension strap. The blade ricasso is etched with the retailer’s name Hawkes & Co. Piccadilly London. The opposite side features a six-pointed star shape with a brass circular proved slug in the centre. The spine of the blade is stamped with the serial number 4548.
Overall length in scabbard: 40.5 inches
Blade length: 32.5 inches
Hilt length: 5.5 inches.
Condition report:
The blade remains in good, bright condition with very crisp etching throughout. Minor areas of surface oxidation and light pitting are visible near the tip and ricasso (photos 4 and 8). The nickel plating on the guard shows surface wear, light pitting, and some loss of finish, particularly on the interior of the basket (photo 6). The shagreen grip is well-preserved with light handling wear and staining, while the wire binding appears intact and tight (photo 2). The leather scabbard shows significant signs of age and use, including surface cracking, scuffing, and finish loss (photo 1). The nickel throat is present and shows light tarnishing (photo 4).
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