Solid half-basket hilted sword, the hilt of the sword consists of gilt solid half-basket guard with raised bars, and a crown and anchor badge. The sword has a lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending all the way down the back. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The sword has a prominent tang button and a hinged flap on the inside of the guard to engage on the stud on the top locket. The sword comes complete with the 1891 pattern sword knot. The Wilkinson steel blade is slightly curved and flat-backed. The obverse of the blade is engraved with a proof mark on the shoulder, and a rectangular tablet, inside of which is engraved with words 'R.A.O. 1854-1876 A.H.O. 1876-1918 R.O-B. 1918'. The obverse of the blade is also decorated with the Royal arms with supporters and motto, and decoration above and below. The reverse of the blade is engraved on the shoulder with the words 'HENRY WILKINSON, PALL MALL, LONDON', and a crown over a foul anchor, with decoration above and below. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets and chape. There are two rings on the top locket and one on the mid locket. The mouth is slightly belled. The maker's name although now almost obliterated is engraved on the reverse of the top locket. The lockets and chape are ornamented with threads and scrolls. The sword originally belonged to Admiral Richard Aldworth Oliver (1811-1889). It was then passed to his son Commander Algernon Hardy Oliver (died 1934) and finally to his grandson Captain Richard Oliver-Bellasis. All of these men in turn wore the sword. Admiral Richard Aldworth Oliver entered the Navy in 1825, he rose to the rank of Admiral on the 9th March 1884 and retired as an Admiral on the 27th October 1884. He was the son of Admiral Robert Dudley Oliver (1766-1818), the father of Commander Algernon Hardy Oliver and the grandfather of Captain Richard Oliver-Bellasis. His son Algernon Hardy Oliver became a Naval Cadet on the 18th August 1869; a Midshipman on the 20th September 1871; he was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on the 30th March 1876; to Lieutenant on the 7th September 1880; to Commander (ret'd) on the 24th September 1900 and he died in 1934. His grandson Captain Richard Oliver-Bellasis was born on the 15th September 1900; he became a Midshipman on the 1st January 1917; he was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on the 15th July 1919; to Lieutenant on the 15th August 1920; to Lieutenant-Commander on the 15th August 1928; to Commander on the 31st December 1933 and to the rank of Captain on the 30th June 1941.