This rarely encountered 1889 pattern infantry sergeant’s sword was made in 1892 by the Wilkinson Sword Company, London and was purchased by the Queensland Government in Australia.
The 830mm, straight, single-edged blade has a wide three-quarter length fuller on each side below a thick, flat spine and terminates in a spear point. The spine is 9mm thick at the shoulder. These P1889 swords are robust fighting swords issued to infantry NCO’s. The un-etched blade is double-edged for the last 250mm and is in good condition, free of rust or damage and with a pale speckled patina.
The forte of the blade is stamped with the War Department WD and arrow, a Wilkinson inspection stamp and a bend test stamp. The obverse bears two additional Wilkinson inspection stamps, the production date of 9 ’92 (September 1892) and the maker’s details, “Wilkinson Sword Company, London.”
The gothic brass hilt is in excellent condition and very robust. The hilt bears Queen Victoria’s royal cypher. The quillon is stamped with the Queensland Government’s ownership mark and the weapon number 71. The shagreen grip and twisted wire are in excellent condition and the blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its plated steel scabbard with two fixed suspension rings. The scabbard is also dated 1892 and bears the WD and arrow stamps. The scabbard is in overall very good condition with the plating intact although there is an area of mild corrosion between the suspension rings on both sides (see photos) and a shallow dent to the right of the ’92 manufacture date. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a rare sword, not often seen.
