Five-ball hilted dress sword, as worn by Flag Officers and Commissioned Officers. The hilt of the sword consists of a five-ball hilt with an anchor inset in the side ring. The sword has a fluted white ivory grip. A gilt band runs around the centre of the grip. In the centre of the band is a shield, which is engraved with a crown and foul anchor motif. The octagonal gilt pommel has a ring for a sword knot. The straight, flat-backed steel blade has one fuller running to the double-edged spear point. If the blade was originally decorated or engraved, all traces are now completely erased. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets and rings, with a chape. There is a stud on the obverse of the top locket for frog suspension. The reverse of the top locket bears the words 'Cullum Kings Cutler Charing Cross'.

This is a pre-regulation sword, one of the two patterns favoured by Officers. A similar example of this type of sword can be seen in an oil painting (BHC2740) in the National Maritime Museum's collection entitled 'Lord Howe On The Deck Of The 'Queen Charlotte', 1 June 1794'. The maker of the sword 'Cullum' had premises at Charing Cross, London from 1752, the business being taken over by John Prosser in 1797.