In VGC, 1895P Named Victorian British Infantry Officer’s Wilkinson Sword w/ Patented Solid Hilt Blade
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The sword of Lieutenant / Captain Charles Frederick De Bohun Boone, of the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. It has a Patented Solid Hilt Blade mounted in a standard Steel Hilt, blade serial number 31701 (Proof date of 21st June 1892) , so it originally was mounted in a true Wilkinson Patented Solid Hilt (1854P) sword, but when the pattern changed the officer simply had the blade remounted into a standard steel hilt. He had a very active roll in the Boer War and died from his injuries in WW1; this is believed to have been his sword throughout.
The Wilkinson sales ledger confirms the blade / original sword was sold to C.F. De B Boone, 2nd. Essex Regt.
Perhaps it could be described as half a Wilkinson Patent / Special Solid Hilt?!
Charles Frederick De Bohun Boone was born in Nagode, India in 1870 and educated at Haileybury and Oriel College, Oxford. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant with the Essex Regiment in 1892 and promoted Lieutenant in 1896 and Captain in 1900. Boone served with the Chitral Relief Force 1895 and then in South Africa was employed with the Mounted Infantry and took part in the operations in the Orange Free State and Transvaal, May-Oct. 1900 and Nov. 1901-May 1902 and in Cape Colony, Jan. 1901, being present at the actions at Vet River, 5-6 May 1900, Zand River, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Frederickstad, 17-25 October 1901 and Colesberg, Jan. 1901. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901). With the outbreak of the Great War, he was with the B.E.F. in France. Wounded on 15 September 1914 at the battle of the Marne, he died on 23rd September 1914 in the Lycee Pasteur, Neuilly-sur-Seine.
The very well etched 32 1/4 inch blade is in very good condition and firm in the hilt. The hilt / guard with Victorian Royal Cypher is also in very good condition. The fishskin grip with some wear / fading is nonetheless very good; the associated twisted grip wire bindings are also very good. The plated steel scabbard (possibly from the previous sword) is also, yes, very good. The sword sheathes and draws well.
Really interesting sword, full provenance, just was £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference AI30. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 1973 103 x 14 x 15 (1.843).
