Stirrup hilted sword which belonged to Captain David Colby (died 1834). The gilt, stirrup hilt has a lion's head pommel with the mane extending for less than an inch down the back-piece and a grip of white polished ivory, bound at intervals of 1/4 in. with gilt wires, probably three in number. The gilt langets bear a foul anchor on each side and the back piece and grip are fitted into a triated ferrule. The knuckle guard has a hole pierced near the pommel to take a sword knot, the trailing quillon is short and turns up.

The blade is straight, flat backed with a five-inch false edge on both sides, is blued and gilt for approximately half their length and watered for the remainder to the point. The obverse is engraved with a cutler's strap mark; foliage; a trumpet and flag in saltire; an enfoliated oval shield resting on two small swords in saltire and surmounted by the bust of a Turk(?) locking to the right, wearing a turban decorated with a crescent in the crown and an aigrette at the front; an arc with rays; foliage; a savage, wearing animal skins and holding a spear in his left hand, stands on a pedestal; scroll; and foliage.

The reverse is engraved with a cutler's strap mark; a foliage knot; a classical vase of fruit surmounting foliage; a woman, classically dressed with an Oriental sword with a European hilt at her right side, holds in her left hand a human face surrounded by rays (this could be a sun but it is more likely to be a head of Medusa and the figure is therefore Minerva. The figure is bare-headed however and the representation is not typical); arc with rays; foliage; flag and trumpet in saltire; and foliage topped by a six point star. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets, each with a ring, and a gilt chape the top locket also has a frog stud. All gilt parts have slight line decoration. A small shoe is fitted to the chape. The reverse side of the top locket is engraved, within a circle, with 'DRURY, Cutler to His Majesty, Strand'.

This is an example of the pattern sword referred to in the Admiralty Order of 4th August 1805. As it has a white grip, it may be assumed that it belonged to an officer above the rank of Lieutenant but this is as far as identification of its owner can go. Both the sword and scabbard are extensively torn.