Half-basket hilted Army sword which is reputed to have belonged to Captain Sir Robert Oliver. The hilt consists of a gilt open-work half-basket with the pierced cypher of King George IV set in the obverse and a short upturned quillon with disc terminal. On the reverse is an open-work folding flap. There is a stepped pommel, with small knurled tang button, and simple decoration back-piece (a spray of leaves) to knurled and striated ferrule at the top of the grip. The black fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. A slot has been cut in the guard near the pommel to take a sword-knot (missing).

The blade is a slightly curved, pipeback with a 203mm false edge and has been engraved for about a quarter of its length. On the obverse is engraved (at the shoulder) 'HERBERT & HUME, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON' and a wreath of foliage incorporating the cypher 'G R' with Georgian crown above. On the reverse (at the shoulder) is engraved 'WARRANTED' and a wreath of foliage incorporating the cypher 'G R' with Georgian crown above. The scabbard is black leather with two gilt lockets with rings and gilt chape with marked shoe. The mid locket differs in design from the top locket and chape. All gilt parts are decorated with lines and scrolls which emphasise their outlines. The top locket is fitted with a frog stud.

This sword was a gift from the Misses Oliver and was reputed to have belonged to Captain Sir Robert Oliver, but no connection has been traced. This is an example of the revolutionary change which took place in sword design in 1822. The Army Dress Regulations of that year laid down the design and in 1827 the Royal Navy followed suit (with a solid half-basket and lion's-head pommel) with an essentially similar sword. The frog stud may indicate that the scabbard is older than the sword as such fittings were abandoned in 1822 and it is likely that Hebbert and Hume made the sword in 1829 (from their address). The guard should be lined with black patent leather but this is missing.