This rare 1897 pattern army officer’s sword bears the royal cypher of King Edward VIII. Edward VIII was king of Great Britain and Emperor of India from the 20th January 1936 until the 10th December 1936. He was king for less than 11 months before his abdication and very few swords bearing his royal cypher were produced.
The 825mm single edged blade is of dumbbell form with a short, wide single fuller on both sides and a slightly rounded spine tapering to a spear point. The blade is in mint condition and is etched with foliate scrollwork surrounding the coat of arms and crowned royal cypher of King Edward VIII above crossed laurel and palm fronds. The obverse of the blade is similarly etched.
The ricasso bears a post 1905 hexagonal Wilkinson Sword Company “best quality” proof stud showing the italicised initials of Henry Wilkinson. The obverse ricasso is blank. This along with the lack of a serial number on the spine suggests that the sword was intended as an advertising piece. Swords like this were made and proved in the same was as all others but were gifted to shops as window displays, often as a back-drop for advertising razor blades.
The plated steel bowl guard is of 1897 pattern and bears the royal cypher of Edward VIII amidst a pierced foliate design. The plating is in excellent condition. The knurled backstrap has an oval pommel and rounded tang nut. The shagreen covered grip is in excellent condition and the twisted wire is intact and strong. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its brown leather covered scabbard. The scabbard is in fair condition with some small areas of loss to the leather, particularly above the shoe. The leather frog strap has perished and is torn. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
Scabbard aside, this is a near mint example of a rare King Edward VIII cyphered 1897 pattern British army officer’s sword.
