Stirrup hilted sword, owned by: 1) John Jervis, Earl St Vincent (1735-1823) - and 2) Captain James Everard Home (1798-circa 1854). The hilt consists of a gilt stirrup with lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending one third of the way down, grip of polished ivory bound with three gilt wires, langets engraved with a foul anchor, small striated gilt ferrule. The underside of the guard is engraved, 'Presented by the Earl St Vincent to Everard Home, upon his being qualified for a Lieutenant, 1817'. A sword knot of blue and gold cord is attached.

The blade is straight, flat-backed with a fuller running the whole length of the blade to within 6mm of the point, the false edge is 102mm long. It is also blued and gilded for 318mm on both sides. Engraved on the obverse is a strap mark, a trophy of drums, flags, pikes and cannon, the cypher 'GR' with the crown above, a knot of foliage, a wreath, and foliage. On the reverse is engraved a strap mark, a bunch of flowers and foliage, the Royal arms of George III, a trophy of flags, pikes and a wreath, a spray of flowers, and foliage. Engraved on the back at the shoulder is 'J.F.Runkel Solingen'. The scabbard is black leather with two gilt lockets and a gilt chape. The lockets are 'D' shaped instead of rings ( a fashion abandoned in about 1810). The obverse side of the top locket bears the arms of Earl St Vincent with an escutcheon of pretence of his wife's arms (the Strong family of which she was an heiress). This sword is probably the same as that shown in Pellegrini's portrait of St. Vincent in the National Maritime Museum which was painted in 1806. The 'D' shaped buckles and the sword knot are markedly similar.

The only Everard Home in the Navy List at the beginning of the 19th century was James Everard Home who was made a Lieutenant in 1818 not 1817. On the assumption that this is the officer referred to on the hilt, a brief description of his career given. Career of James Everard Home: Born, 25 Oct 1798; entered the Navy, 10 April 1810; Lieutenant, 14 July 1818; Commander, 28 January 1822; Captain, 5 December 1837; Apparently left the Navy in 1854. Home was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1825 and a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1842 for services in the war with China of that year.

Career of John Jervis, Earl St. Vincent (1735-1823) Entered Navy, 4 Jan 1748; Lieutenant, 19 Feb 1755; Commander, 15 May 1759; Captain, 13 Oct 1760; Rear-Admiral, 24 Sep 1787; Vice-Admiral, 1Feb 1793; Admiral, 1 Jun 1795; Admiral of the Fleet, 9 Jul 1821. St.Vincent is best remembered for his victory over the Spanish fleet in 1797 from which his title was taken but his most significant contribution to his country's fortunes was his reorganisation of the Navy. For many years, he fought against the corrupt and inefficient home administration and together with Barham must be given much of the credit for the splendid services rendered by the Royal Navy during the Wars with Revolutionary and Imperial France from 1793 until 1815.