Non-Regulation Royal Navy Officer's Sword with Patent Solid Hilt (Full Tang) and 'Claymore' Blade, By Thurkle

EL6175 - A very interesting non-regulation Royal Navy officer's sword by top maker Thurkle, featuring a double-edged straight 'claymore' blade and a patent solid hilt construction with full width tang. This sword is difficult to date precisely, but is probably from the 1860s.

The blade is bright, though it seems to have enjoyed an active life and through successive cleaning the etching is quite faint. Despite this, the fouled anchor and crown can be seen, together with some other motifs which are more difficult to make out. The blade is firm in the grip and backstrap/pommel, being of patent tang construction, though there is some movement in the guard due to the compression of the leather washer with age. The full width tang is clearly visible at the front of the grip and the shagreen is in nice condition, with only a few strands of the grip wire missing. Together with its scabbard, having a locking pin which engages with the hole in the guard drop, functioning as it should. A rare and interesting sword by a top maker, which incorporates two non-regulation features which the Royal Navy officer who bought this would have considered made it a better fighting weapon.