Sword

Straight stirrup hilted sword. The hilt consists of a straight, gilt steel stirrup guard with semi-circular langets each side. There is a gilt copper lion's-mask pommel and back-piece, the mane extending a quarter of the way towards a small, straighted, gilt ferrule. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three brass-copper-brass wires. On the langet, a simple foul anchor retains some of its gilding. The guard ends in a short straight quillon with an upturned oval disc finial.

The blade is heavy, slightly curved with a pronounced false edge. Flat-backed, the false edge is produced by distinct chamfer 280mm long and is 216mm long to an asymmetrical point. A broad, shallow groove runs from the hilt to the chamfer. The blade is also unusually thick, measuring almost 13mm at the shoulder. It is undecorated. There is a once black (now brown) leather scabbard with two gilt lockets, each with a ring and a gilt chape with a small shoe. The top locket also bears a decorated frog stud and all three mounts are decorated with two groups of horizontal threads each. On the reverse of the top locket is the engraved inscription 'PROSSER Manufacture to his Majesty London'.

This sword is unlikely to date from later than 1827 and could be considerably earlier. The steel guard and semi-circular langet could indicate an Army origin for that part though the pommel and back-piece are quite orthodox for the Navy. The lack of an anchor on the langet is, perhaps, unusual after 1812. The scabbard mounts are decorated in an orthodox way for swords of the period 1805-27 though the frog stud, which presumably antedates the rings, is of an earlier design. The blade is unusually heavy and might conceivably also have an Army origin. It is, however, too short for calvalry use and does not appear to have been shortened since manufacture - it is its original length.

Object Details

ID: WPN1412
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Prosser, John
Places: London
Date made: circa 1825
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Blade: 724 x 35 mm
Parts: Sword
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