British Army Horseguards sword supposedly surrendered to Nelson. The hilt consists of an iron/steel guard of open basket type, the basket being formed by bars joining the knuckle bow and pierced shell, lined with a piece of red cloth, backed with leather and bound round the edges with blue woven material, cut to fit the shell; the side piece of the guard is screwed into the side of the pommel. There is a white fish-skin grip, bound with three gilt wires, a lion's-head pommel with prominent tang button, and a trailing quillon.

The blade is straight, with a flat-back and ending in double-edged spear point, extending for the final 203mm of the blade. There is a central fuller, with as second fuller towards the back edge for much of its length, and a third fuller extending the length of the shoulder. The scabbard is tooled black leather, with a geometric design, incorporating an arrow, on the obverse and reverse and with two mounts. It is lined with wood. The mounts, top locket and chape have a simple line decoration, and there is a frog stud for suspension - elongated.

This sword was surrendered to Nelson during the Battle of St. Vincent by a Spanish officer aboard the San Josef (see papers in records). Originally owned by Captain Nelson - given to him by Sir John Cowell? - and sold at the sale of the effects of his widow, Mrs Nelson, at Goldalming, 26 January 1921; auctioneers Messrs Debenham. A dealer (unnamed - a Mr W.G. Mills?) bought it and sold it at a profit to Mr Burdett (another dealer) 9 February 1921. Mr Burdett then sold it to Mr Rowe 26 February 1921. On her death, his widow bequeathed it to NMM. (The papers received with the sword relate to Mr Rowe's attempts to prove the sword's authenticity and provenance). According to Christie's description, this was a British officer's backsword of the last quarter of the 18th century. The sword was taken to the Meyrick Society, who identified the sword as that of 1st or 2nd Troop of Horseguards, which became the Lifeguards after 1788, and dated the sword as about 1750.