Sword

Infantry sword. The hilt consists of a gilt brass, rather engular knuckle-bow of hexagonal section leading to a short straight quillon with finial decorated with acanthus. There is an acanthus-shaped pommel of ten facets below a straightened neck and twin oval shells (neither equipped to fold). The grip is bound with plaited copper wire. The upper face of the shells bears acanthus decoration at the centre and there is acanthus/scroll decoration at the lower end of the bow. There is a very prominent tang button. The blade is straight, flat-backed with a broad, shallow fuller running practically the whole length from hilt to point. A false edge, some 130mm long leads to a symmetrical point. Any decoration has been ground or polished away. There are no inscriptions on either the obverse or reverse. The scabbard is missing. This sword is of the general type introduced for infantry officers of the British Army in 1796.

Object Details

ID: WPN1410
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: 1796
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 746 x 22 mm