1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue

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1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #1 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #2 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #3 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #4 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #5 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #6 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #7 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #8 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #9 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #10 1827 Pattern British Rifle Officers' Sword. Boer War Issue #11
This is an interesting example of a Boer War issue Royal Rifle Officers’ sword.
The straight dumbbell shaped blade is 82 cm / 32.25 inches long with a flat spine, deep central fuller and spear point. The blade is etched and decorated on one side with the crowned cipher of Edward VII and a foliate design and on the other with the strung bugle of the Rifles amidst a foliate design.
The blade has been chemically browned for Boer War service.

The gothic-style pierced steel hilt bears the Rifles crowned strung bugle in an oval cartouche. The guard has been chemically browned for use in South Africa. This was common practice to avoid the usually shiny hilt from flashing in the sun and advertising the presence of an officer to the sharp eyed Boer snipers. It is less common for the blade to be browned as well. The contoured hilt is wrapped in fish skin and brass wire with a crosshatched steel back strap, terraced oval pommel and round tang button.

The leather scabbard has been blackened and bears the words “Made in England” on the remnants of the frog strap. The throat is of plated steel.

The sword and scabbard are in good condition for their age and service use. The blade is free from rust and is a uniform brown along its length with only minimal wear to the browning. The etchings are still clear. The hilt is in good order and firm on the tang. There is some wear to the browning on the guard. The scabbard is in generally good order although the stitching on the seam is beginning to perish and separate and there are spots of what looks like white paint on the leather.

The maker of the sword in unknown but it can be dated to 1901/1902.

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