A Very Fine Presentation 1854 Pattern Rifles Sword. 38 ½” overall, 32" flat blade with full length etched & engraved panels, with coats of arms & badge of the 1st Essex Rifle Volunteers over Crown VR, ‘Romford’ in a ribbon. ‘1st Essex XII Rifle Volunteers’ over a strung bugle & a coat of arms with ‘’Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London’ to one side, the obverse with two coats of arms with presentation panel to Major C Russell ‘From members of the 1st Essex Rifle Corps November 2nd’. Numbered 12710 on the spine. Steel Gothic hilt with crowned strung bugle with stepped pommel & part chequered back strap. Fish skin grip with three strand silver wire. In a latter brown leather field service scabbard. Number 12710 made in 1862.
Possibly one of the best Wilkinson blades we have ever seen. Very good condition, blade all original polish. Hilt with nearly all its original blue polish, scabbard a bit scuffed. More research could be worthwhile.