This rarely encountered 1889 pattern infantry Staff Sergeant’s sword was made in November 1891 by the Wilkinson Sword Company, London.
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 and were the primary weapon of infantry Staff Sergeants. The un-etched blade is double-edged for the last 250mm and is in very good condition, with some pin-prick pitting towards the point.
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 11 ’91 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 back of the quillon is marked to the Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C.) with the date, February 1899. The shagreen grip and twisted wire are in great condition and the blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its matching steel scabbard with two fixed suspension rings. The side of the throat bears the date ‘91 and WD and arrow stamps. The front of the scabbard throat bears a worn issue stamp indicating the sword was issued to a Staff Sergeant in the Medical Staff Corps (M.S.C.) in May 1895. The scabbard is in good condition with very shallow pin-prick pitting. The scabbard retains its wooden core and the sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a good example of a rare Victorian Staff Sergeant’s sword. These are not often seen.
