A scarce British 1895 Pattern Victorian Royal Fusiliers officer’s sword made in London by Pillin and owned by a member of the Wilkinson family. The 1895 pattern guard is married with an 1845 pattern infantry blade. Regulations allowed officers to adopt new pattern swords when their current sword was no longer fit for service. The owner of this sword chose to adopt the new pattern guard but retain their earlier blade. Probably because the new guard offered far better protection to the hand.
This sword bears the regimental badge of the VII Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), along with etched battle honours and the Wilkinson family arms.
The 820mm blade is of the “Wilkinson” pattern adopted in 1845, having a flat spine above a wide, three-quarter length fuller and terminating in a spear point. The blade was service sharpened and is in good condition, with wear to the etching on the sharpened edge.
The blade is etched with ribboned Peninsular War battle honours above a rayed crown and the regimental badge of the VII (City of London Regiment) Royal Fusiliers, an English rose within a garter containing the motto “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.” Below this is a running horse and the designation, VII Royal Fusiliers. The battle honours continue below the regimental badge and include those of the Crimean War.
The forte bears a decorative cartouche containing the arms of the Wilkinson family, a demi-unicorn argent, issuing from a mural crown gules, with the motto “Non Mihi Sed Tibi Gloria.” “Glory to thee, not to me.”
The obverse of the blade is etched with ogee and trefoil arches, foliate scrollwork and the crowned cypher of Queen Victoria. The spine is stamped with the serial number 96793. This is likely to be an order number for the cutler John Jones. The blade retains its original leather washer.
The ricasso bears the cutler’s details, Jones & Co., 6 Regent St., London. The obverse ricasso bears Pilin’s’ brass proof stud.
The steel half basket guard has pierced foliate scrollwork surmounted by the cypher of Queen Victoria. The guard is in good condition, with some small patches of pale tarnish. The knurled back strap is finished with an oval pommel and tang button. The ray skin grip is in good condition and the wire is intact and tight.
The sword is complete with its 1899 pattern brown leather scabbard with steel locket and chape. The scabbard is in good condition and the stitching is intact. The locket and chape have a mild salt & pepper patina. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a good example of a scarce Victorian 1895 pattern named Royal Fusiliers officer’s sword with an earlier fighting blade. A hard-to-find sword that has great scope for research.
