ELC1023 - A Victorian 1897 pattern infantry officer's sword with prized Patent Solid Hilt by Henry Wilkinson, numbered 36844 for 1899. Identified to a named officer and carrying their initials etched to the blade. Re-hilted in Edward VII's reign for the new monarch's cypher.
This is a really interesting sword, having an 1892 pattern blade with Victoria's cypher and a highly sought-after patent solid hilt (which made the sword roughly twice as expensive as a standard Wilkinson infantry sword at the time). The 32 1/2” blade has the officer's initials, F. G. P., as well as a very unusual ER (Edward Rex) mark on the reverse of the blade opposite the Wilkinson serial number. Another unusual feature is the steel ‘washer’, which would normally be leather.
The Wilkinson Proof register (a copy of which is included here) states the date Aug 29th 1899 and records that the sword was sold to an ‘F’ (?) G Porter of the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment. Harts Army List records a Lieutenant Fortescue Geoffrey Porter of the 2nd South Staffordshire Infantry Regiment. In 1900 the S. Staffordshire Regiment was sent to South Africa as part of the forces in the Second Boer War. In 1903 F G Porter is next recorded in Harts as having transferred to the 14th Bengal Lancers, a cavalry regiment. In 1909 he is recorded as Captain in the 14th, before in 1910 transferring back to the infantry and being recorded as a captain in the 17th Infantry of the Bengal Army (known as the ‘Loyal Regiment’ after remaining on the British side during the Mutiny). Porter continued his career in the 17th and is recorded as becoming Temporary Major (a war time promotion) in 1915 and being confirmed as major in 1917. The 17th started the First World War in India before joining the 11th Indian Division in Egypt for the remainder of the war. This is a really great provenance and there is surely lots more interesting research to do.
The sword is in good condition overall, with the blade in an excellent state with some minor staining but all the etching crisply executed especially the ornate initials. The blade appears as though it was service sharpened and then slightly blunted again on the edge (presumably after campaigning) and there are some tiny remnants of edge nicks just about visible. The 1897 hilt was originally plated, but only traces remain, with the underlying steel in good bright condition. The blade is firm (being a patent hilt) in the grip but the guard has some slight movement. The top row of silver wire is absent, but everything else is present. The scabbard is in good condition with its plating mostly intact and a few inert rust patches.
This is a really top quality sword with great provenance, that probably saw action. Lots more research potential.
