Original Item: Only one available. A remarkable British Royal Naval Saber made by one of England’s finest cutlers of the day THOMAS GILL. The 30″ blade is fully engraved almost to the tip on both side featuring the Royal Monogram of King George III, together with extensive panoplies of arms, a Man-o-War, mythical Gods and sea creatures together with the maker’s name and date of 1799.
Much of the engraving was originally picked out in gold of which about 40% is still visible. The stirrup shaped gilt brass guard has two longettes protruding along the blade on either side displaying face-on carvings of the British lion.
The pommel of the sword, traditionally a lion’s head, is a horse head which is very uncommon. The grip is ivory bound with gilt brass wire. The saber still retails the original gilt brass mounted tooled black leather scabbard.
A private purchase saber of a senior officer from the time when Britain’s navy was at it very best, directly following the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Possibly used at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, and finally Trafalgar in 1805.