EL7393 - The Wilkinson piquet weight King's Royal Rifle Brigade (60th Regiment of Foot) sword of Colonel Edward William Herbert. Edward William Herbert (22 March 1855-28 December 1924) JP. Col. K.R.R.C. served in the Zulu War 1879 , the Sudan campaign of 1884, and again in South Africa during the Second Boer War (photo of him in the centre uploaded here before embarkation in 1899). He had also been the ADC to the governor of the Fiji Islands between 1880-1883. He was married on 12 January 1887 to Beatrice Anne (d. 8 June 1928), daughter of Sir Hedworth Williamson 8th Bt. and they became the parents of the 5th Earl of Powis. Therefore this sword has lots of research potential and a really interesting history, with a lot of hits against his name and family on the British Newspaper Archive. He was a descendent of Clive of India! The Wilkinson proof book for blade 22045 records that it was finished on 14th November 1877, was a "Dress Rifles pattern", and sold to E.W. Herbert Esq. The sword is in generally good condition, with a mostly bright blade in good polish, with a few areas of discoloration, firm in the hilt. The plating of the hilt and scabbard are quite worn, and the remnants of the original black patent leather sword knot are still in place, with a good shagreen and wire grip. The sword could benefit from further cleaning and gentle restoration.
