Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers
Lot 78
An 1803 pattern infantry officer's sword, the 80cm curved fullered steel blade with bayonet tip, the brass hilt with pierced guard, GR royal cypher, lion's mask pommel and ribbed ivory grip, 93cm long overall, in associated brass mounted leather scabbard, the top mount inscribed 'Goldney's, Late Neild, St. James Street. London, Cutlers to his Royal Highness, Prince of Wales', with a 1796 pattern light cavalry sword, the 85cm single edged curved fullered steel blade with bayonet tip, the steel stirrup hilt with ribbed ivory grip, 98.5cm long overall, lacking scabbard (2) (at fault) CONDITION REPORT:The 1803 pattern infantry officer's sword shows wear to the blade which has removed almost all etched or engraved detail. The blade also shows tarnishing and pitting across the surface. The hilt shows polish build up in all crevices, and the brass areas show tarnishing throughout. The grip shows cracking and staining throughout, and an area of damage under the lion's mask. The blade appears firm in the hilt. The lower and upper brass mounts of the scabbard are detached from the leather, and may not be a matching set. All the brass mounts show dents, splits and tarnishing. The leather is very dry and worn, with an open seam running the full length, and may not be original. The fit of the scabbard at the hilt suggests that the scabbard may be associated with, rather than original to, the sword.The 1796 pattern light cavalry sword shows wear to the blade which has removed almost all etched or engraved detail. The blade also shows tarnishing and pitting across the surface, and the tip appears to have snapped off (or possibly rusted away). The blade appears to be secured in the hilt by two nails or similar. The grip is loose in the hilt, and shows cracking, wear, staining and ingrained dirt, and an area of damage under the pommel. The stirrup hilt reinforcing insert at the top of the knuckle bar which may be a later replacement.
