Victorian British Rifle Officer's Patent Solid Hilt Wilkinson Sword, sold

In worn and aged condition, the Crimean War era Victorian British / Irish Rifle Officer's Patent Solid Hilt Wilkinson Sword of Lieutenant Carleton Smith of the County Louth Rifles Militia.

Serial number 7037 for 1855, the Wilkinson sales ledger states simply it is a Patent Tang sword, no buyer's info. But the blade has "C W Smith" to it, and the only C Smith at that time on Hart's Army list for infantry was one Carleton Smith. Plus, it has the goat's head on crown family coat of arms, as used by his father Henry Jeremiah Smith a land owner of Beabeg (Bey Beg) and Annesbrook in County Meath, Ireland. Plus it has the family motto "oblatum respue aurum" (reject gold). All of Carleton's family emigrated to the United States, but he joined the British Army, was promoted to at least the rank of Captain and on the 23 Oct 1865 married Alice Ann Freshfield in Brighton, England (family tree here).

The 32 inch blade is well aged but still quite sharp and firm in the hilt. The non-standard three bar hilt with folding guard section, a special order, is sin good order. The grip and grip wire are as seen

A bespoke Patent Solid Hilt with full provenance for just £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference number W43 (1181). Further / full sized pictures available upon request.