Open half-basket hilted sword. The hilt consists of a gilt brass open half-basket in the same form as that of the infantry sword of 1822. In place of the cartouche is a fretted crown over foul anchor, the whole surrounded by a wreath of laurel tied at the base. There is a short, upturned rear quillon with disc finial. The pommel and lower end of back-piece are decorated with embossed acanthus leaves arranged rather geometrically. The black fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires and there is a small gilt brass ferrule at the top of the grip with three horizontal flutes. The blade is slightly curved, slender, and pipe-backed. It has been etched both sides but there are no inscriptions. The scabbard is missing.

This sword exhibits a number of mistakes which lead to the assumption that it was made in 1827 when the half-basket hilted sword was introduced. The use of a basket in the Army style has been met with before. The black grip may be an indication that the sword was meant for a junior officer (though midshipmen changed to white at that time) and so may the absence of a lion's-head pommel. Acanthus decoration would seem a good substitute. Perhaps this sword dates from soon after Admiralty let it be known that a new sword was to be adopted and the maker did not wait for the issue of the regulations.