Edward 7th HAC Artillery Officer’s
Field Sword (sold) |
An extremely rare Edward VII Honorable Artillery Company Officer's
Sword with family crest of the Stirlings of Hertfordshire or Bankell.


This is an extremely rare and unique artillery officer's sword
with an 1854 pattern flying bomb hilt like that of the Grenadier
Guards except the bomb is inscribed with the Honorable Artillery
Company logo "HAC"! This is a very rare pattern of sword
that does crop up now and again but is not a well documented pattern.
The ricasso is marked to "Wilkinson Sword Co London" but
I believe this was made by another maker. If an outfitter was asked
by an officer to have a Wilkinson made sword but the outfitter dealt
with another maker, it was common for the outfitter to ask their
maker to copy the Wilkinson logo. This would be frowned on these
days to say the very least, but went on quite a lot at the turn
of the century apparently. However made the sword, the etching is
very good indeed. That etching in this blade's case includes the
family crest of a lion passant with the Latin phrase “fides
servata secundat" ("Tried fidelity makes prosperous")
belonging to the Stirlings of Hertfordshire or Bankell. The sword
quality is extremely high and has one of the best quality leather
scabbards I have seen. The sword, scabbard, grip and original sword
knot are all in very good condition overall with no movement / looseness.
Further pictures available upon request. Item reference number 118
(68).
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