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1912P WW1 British Cavalry Officer's Wilkinson Sword, Sold

In very good overall condition, a superb Wilkinson made 1912 pattern British cavalry officer's sword, serial number 48745 for 1914, blade etched with original owner's initials (research possible), complete with original WW1 leather hilt combat cover and remnants of camouflage paint to pommel.

1912P WW1 British Cavalry Officer's Wilkinson Sword, Owner's Initialsimage G81 1

Sold Item Notice

If you are looking for a WW1 British cavalry officer's sword, it is going to be tough to better this one. OK, the Wilkinson sales ledger has a huge gap in it for 1914/17, so the original owner can not be researched through that, but their initials (AFR or possibly ARF) are etched on the blade, so researching the 1914/1915 British Army list could well produce a result. Because the original leather combat cover is present, it is perhaps unlikely that the officer survived the war to later remove it for peace time use.

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The 35 inch blade is in good condition, some wear and patina but not too much, and unusually it is for the most part plain (there is no royal cypher or other decoration as is normal). Clearly a private purchase courtesy of the owner's initials to the blade, this does tend to tell a story about the original owner in itself; with a slightly Gaelic look to the initials, it may be that this was the sword of an Irish cavalryman fighting in the British Army.

The blade is firm in the hilt. The hilt appears to be good under the combat cover, some plating loss and rust is visible. The leather combat cover to the guard is weakened through age; the stitching along the edges is frail or gone, the leather has some splits (some small glue spots have been applied underneath to hold broken sections in place - it appears this still could easily removed however). But still, the combat cover is sound and could be re stitched in our opinion; we have applied leather balsam to all the leather components you see in order to nourish and preserve it.

The grip and twisted grip wire bindings are in very good shape. The original leather sword knot is complete and in sound condition. The original leather scabbard is in good condition, a small nick, some aging, but good. The sword sheathes and draws well.

A great investment. Please quote item reference number G81. Further / full sized images upon request.

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