Solid half-basket hilted sword. Owned by Captain Sir W.W. Hornby KCB active 1825-46. The hilt consists of a solid half-basket guard with raised bars and a crown and anchor badge. It has a white fish-skin grip bound with gilt wires and a lion's-head pommel.

The blade is slightly curved with a round back and double-edged spear point. The scabbard is an 1882 flag officer's pattern, made of black leather with two gilt lockets and a chape. It is fitted with an 1891 pattern sword-knot. The etched decoration and maker's name on the blade are very faint. The tang button has been cut off (?broken) and flattened. The dimensions of the blade and hilt are smaller than regular size. The chape has a very pointed shoe. There is an inscription on the blade (reverse) at the shoulder: 'Symons/ Devonport'. The blade dimensions are 699mm by 25mm.

The sword was owned by Sir William Wyndham Hornby, KCB, (nephew of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, the great-grandfather of the donor). He was born on 23 July 1812; entered the Royal Naval College on 1 December 1825; was volunteering in June 1827; became a Midshipman in 1828; a Mate (of the Ranger) in 1832; a Lieutenant on 9 September 1833 and a Commander Captain in 1846. The smaller than regulation dimensions could indicate that the sword was made for him as a midshipman and the scabbard fittings altered for rank later.

The sword was acquired with paintings (PR1988-18 to 85), manuscripts/pr.books (MS88/061), photo albums (HP1988/49), in addition to swords gun models, medals (W88/21.1 to .11) and ship crests (W88-22.12-21). See also W71-26 (swords, uniform and medals).