EL7228 - Very unusual late-Victorian officer's sword (circa 1896-1901), featuring a cavalry officer's hilt (1896 pattern) married to an infantry officer's sword blade (1892 pattern). The blade carries the elaborate double VR cypher, so this must date the sword to after 1896 and before Victoria's death in 1901. The question is why do we find a cavalry hilt with an infantry blade (made by Pillin). One possible explanation is that this was for an officer in the Imperial Yeomanry or City of London Yeomanry, during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War period. The blade has some patina, but is quite bright with most of the etching visible, and completely firm in the hilt with no movement. The hilt in very good shape, with a clean guard and back piece, very good shagreen, though half of the wire missing.
