EL7443 - An interesting Victorian infantry officer's sword, made by Pillin for outfitter Hobson, with the officer's initials etched on the blade. Featuring a narrow version of the 1845 pattern blade, which has been service sharpened, married to an 1895 pattern hilt (presumably when the new regulations came in 1895/96). Please note that the tang nut at the pommel has either been removed or has broken off, and the end of the tang has then been slightly peened. Nevertheless, the hilt seems secure on the tang and when I wiggle it with some force only the guard moves a bit from side to side. I suppose it is possible that somebody in trying to tighten the end nut in order to make the guard tighter snapped the nut off and then just peened the end of the tang to make do. I have priced the sword down accordingly. The blade has grey patina, but the etching is clear, the guard is quite clean pare steel with matching patina, and the grip shagreen and wire are complete and very good. The sword is in its original field service scabbard which is clearly narrower than a normal ones and made to fit this specific blade. It may well be possible to match the initials on the blade to an officer, but it remains unresearched for now.
