Broadsword

Scottish broadsword, which belonged to Rear-Admiral L.R. Oliphant. The hilt of the broadsword consists of a steel basket guard. The conical steel pommel has five grooves. The grip is made from leather. The broadsword has a straight, double-edged, steel blade. The arms of the City of Mecklenburg in Germany are engraved on the tang on the reverse of the blade. The black leather scabbard has one steel locket and chape. The locket has a frog button.

The broadsword was given to Rear-Admiral L.R. Oliphant by a relative of John Scott, who was Secretary to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) and was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar, together with correspondence from and about John Scott. Tradition has it that the broadsword belonged to John Scott, this is supported to some small extent by papers, which accompanied the broadsword, and which in 1960 were still in the possession of Commander L.A Oliphant, Rear-Admiral L.R. Oliphant's son. Rear-Admiral L.R. Oliphant was Superintendent of the Greenwich Hospital School until its removal to Holbrook. During his employment at the Greenwich Hospital School he lived in the Queen's House at Greenwich.

Object Details

ID: WPN1195
Collection: Weapons
Type: Broadsword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Places: Scotland; Unlinked place Cape Trafalgar
Events: Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar, 1805
Date made: circa 1800
People: Nelson, Horatio; Oliphant, Laurence Hugh Scott, John Oliphant, Laurence Richard
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 120 x 965 x 140 mm
Parts: Broadsword