Solid half-basket hilted sword, which belonged to Commander Reginald Dundas Merriman (died 1960). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt solid half-basket guard with raised bars and a crown, anchor and Star of India badge. There is a folding flap on the inside of the guard to take on the stud on the top locket. The sword has a lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending the length of the back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The straight, flat-backed steel blade has a broad groove to within 235mm of the double-edged spear point. The obverse of the blade is engraved on the shoulder with a proof mark, a crown, a star and a foul anchor motif with further decoration above and below. The reverse of the blade is engraved on the shoulder with the words 'GIEVES PORTSMOUTH LONDON EDINBURGH & DEVONPORT', and decorated with a crown over the Royal cypher 'GRI', with further decoration above and below. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets, with rings and chape. The mounts are ornamented with lines and scrolls, and the chape is further decorated with a honeysuckle ornament. The sword cutler 'Gieves' had premises at Portsmouth, London, Edinburgh and Devonport.

Commander Reginald Dundas Merriman (died 1960) became a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Indian Marine on the 28th December 1908 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 28th March 1913. He became a Commander on the 28th March 1921 and died in 1960.