Solid half-basket hilted sword: Royal Naval Air Service. Owned by Air Commodore Wilfrid Henry Dunn RNAS (Active 1915-1918). The hilt consists of a gilt solid half-basket guard, with folding flap on the inside (having a hole to engage on a stud on the top locket), raised bars with crown and eagle badge, a lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending all the way down the back and a white fish-skin grip bound with three gilt wires.

The blade is a slightly curved (Wilkinson) flat back, with one groove running to within 254mm of the point which is a double-edged spear point. On the obverse is engraved a proof mark 'P' on shoulder, oak leaves surrounded by a rope, space for owner's name, oak leaves surrounded by a rope with two half- hitches in it, a crown over an eagle, oak leaves surrounded with a rope which has two spliced eyes tied together with a riband, and oak leaves and an acorn. On the reverse is engraved 'GIEVE'S/PORTSMOUTH/LONDON &/ DEVONPORT' on shoulder, then as the obverse but without the tablet for the owner's name and with the crown and eagle replaced by the Royal arms with supporters and 'DIEU ET MON DROIT' below. The scabbard is black leather, with two gilt lockets with rings and a chape, ornamented with lines, scrolls and hearts and with a honeysuckle ornament at the bottom of the chape. Sword maker also at London and Devonport.

Wilfred Henry Dunn became a Flight Sub; Lieutenant 28 January 1915; Flight Lieutenant 1 April 1916; Flight Commander 30 June 1917 and was transferred to Royal Air Force 1 April 1918.