Straight stirrup hilted sword, which belonged to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne (1806-1896). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt stirrup guard, which is nearly straight, and nearly a knuckle-bow. The langets are heavily embossed with a foul anchor and cable motif. The sword has a lion's-head pommel, the mane only extending a quarter of the length of the back-piece. The grip is made from polished white ivory bound with three gilt wires.

The straight, flat-backed steel blade is damascened in blue and gold for 483mm from the hilt. The blade is engraved with leaf decoration, a lion and unicorn under a shield of the Royal arms, and a crown over a naval trophy of crossed anchors and a buoy, with a mast and colour staffs. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets and rings with gilt chape. The scabbard bears the inscription 'Dudley Grand Parade Portsmouth'. Attached to the hilt is a label, which contains the visiting card of Lieutenant A. Milne and the words 'Sword given to me by John Dewar, 1825. Sd.A Milne'. On the other side of the label are the words 'Wore this sword 24 & 26 Aug 81 at General Macdonald and Lord B.[orP]...Boys Drum, Duke of...Volunteer Review'. John Dewar entered the Navy in 1799 and rose to the rank of Commander. He died in 1865. Alexander Milne entered the Navy in 1817 and rose to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet (ret'd) in 1881. He was created a Baronet in 1876 and died in 1896.

The pattern of this sword was altered by the regulations of 1827 to one with an entirely different hilt and blade. On this account Lieutenant Milne could not have worn this sword in naval uniform except on some special occasion (he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1827 when the sword changed). Lieutenant Milne has noted on the card attached to the hilt that as Admiral of the Fleet, he was present at a review of Volunteers in 1881. This was probably that of the Edinburgh Volunteer Review on the 25th August 1881, when Major-General Macdonald was in command and 40,624 officers and men were present and inspected by Queen Victoria.