Original British Victorian Officer’s Inscribed Presentation Sword with Sword Knot and Period Photograph – Circa 1865-75 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. Sets like this are something that we only get in occasionally. This Victorian Era Officer’s Presentation sword is a very nice piece, and is in great shape, well protected by its original steel “field” scabbard. For dress occasions these swords had another more ornate brass mounted “parade” scabbard, which unfortunately was not included in the set. However, included in this offering is a very old period photograph, which shows the officer, Ensign Thomas Lee, in full dress uniform, wearing the sword in the parade scabbard. Really a very nice offering.

The sword itself has a very nice etched 32 1/2 inch long blade, which bears the following presentation inscription:

THIS SWORD WAS PRESENTED TO ENSIGN THO’S LEE 80TH REG’T
BY THE SERJEANTS of the DEPOT MILITARY TRAIN
AS A MARK OF THEIR ESTEEM while serving
with them as SARJEANT MAJOR.

On the blade ricasso there is also information regarding the retailer who sold and customized the sword:

HERBERT & CO
– 8 –
PALL MALL EAST
LONDON

The sword is a Pattern 1845 Infantry Officer’s Sword with gilt brass mounts, including the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria on the blade surrounded by floral engraving. The Gilt Basket guard also incorporates the Royal Crown over the entwined V.R. devise. Comes with its original sharkskin covered grip bound in gilt brass wire. Complete with its steel matching field scabbard in perfect condition. It should be noted that Sergeant is spelled in the old way with a “J” instead of a “G” and that at that time it was almost unheard of a NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER, in this case a Serjeant Major making the leap to ENSIGN, a Junior Officer (2nd Lt.). The “officer class” was often filled with the sons of nobility, and upward mobility was not seen often at all.

All things considered, this sword is in exceptional condition overall, with an overall length of 38 1/4 inches. However, the quality embroidered sword knot strap is severely worn between where in wraps the sword guard and the knot, a distance of about 4″-5″. Also the leather lining of the hand-guard is quite old and stiff, but still intact, something rarely seen. Otherwise truly excellent.

The included photograph is on a small card, the type taken at small shops that offered a variety of services. The rear of the photograph indicates it was made by EDWARD BANES, Practical Chemist and Photographist, located at 3 High Street, Brompton in Kent. The photo shows Thomas Lee in his full dress uniform, most likely years after the sword was presented.

The 80th Regiment of Foot known as the the Staffordshire Volunteers was raised in 1793 in response to the French Revolution followed by the Napoleonic Wars. It served throughout the empire during the first half of the 19th Century and then in the Indian Mutiny 1858 and 1859, then in the ZULU WARS of 1879 from about the this particular Sword saw service. In 1881 the Regiment was re-titled under the Childer’s Reforms to become the South Staffordshire Regiment, with Regimental Numbers were retired.

A great presentation sword with much Research potential, most likely having seen service in South African particularly in the ZULU WARS of 1879. In lovely condition ready to display, a presentation sword with period photograph.