In good condition, an ERI British Infantry Presentation Wilkinson Sword to John Inglis Eadie
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Etched “Presented to John Inglis Eadie by his friends at West Coker. February 1902.” (Wilkinson Sword serial number 38720 for early 1901). John Inglis Eadie was born in Chelsea London in 1883. He served in the British Army in India and made Captain, then Major on 18th January 1917 and eventually (after the war) Lieutenant Colonel, all with the 97th Deccan Infantry and Staff. As a Major, he attended the 1921 Cairo Conference (see article photo – possibly the uniformed officer without his cap on) as the British Acting Defence Adviser. A published author; “An Amharic Reader – by Major J I Eadie”. He died in 1950.
The blade bears the royal cypher of Queen Victoria as it was made just before her death. The hilt / guard bears the ERI royal cypher in its cartouche, for King Edward 7th, as it was finished as the king came to the crown.
The 32 3/8 inch blade is well etched and good condition, some rubbing wear / aging, and is firm in the hilt. The guard / hilt was plated, but that has mostly come all away to leave the bare steel (with a little tarnish) underneath (many swords were not plated, so inconsequential), and is in good condition generally, but has some light rusting and patina away from the front of the guard itself. The grip has suffered wear; clearly it was held a lot by the undoubtedly tropical sweaty hand of John Inglis Eadie while in India. The twisted grip wire bindings have suffered from wear too, with some lesser strands absent. The very colonial style scabbard is good though aged with scuffs to the leather and some light pitting to the steel fitting. The sword sheathes and draws well, if a little tightly towards the end of being fully sheathed.
A great sword for was £? (too late, now sold) so don’t procrastinate too much! Please quote item reference ZZ93. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 1804-103x15x14 (1.834)
