Original British Victorian P-1845 Colonial Officers Dress Sword by S.J Pillin with Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Victorian Era Pattern 1845 Colonial Officers Dress Sword, with a lovely etched 28 1/4″ inch long thin fullered blade. These were lightweight swords intended for Formal Occasions such as Balls, Parades, etc.

The sword features an open “Gothic” style half basket guard, which bears the Queen’s Crown over a VR, the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria before she became Empress of India in 1876. The grip is wrapped with shark skin and bound with copper wires, with a simple pommel. The original gilding unfortunately is completely worn away.

The blade still has a great etching on both sides, though the dark background has been polished away. There are the standard military designs as well as the Queen’s Crown / VR marking as seen on the guard. There also looks to be a monogram on one side, which could be “R C” or something similar, possibly the initials of the owner. The maker/retailer name can still be read on the ricasso:

S.J. PILLIN
61 GERRARD ST.
– SOHO –
LONDON
– W –

The ricasso on the other side has the standard Six Pointed Star etching around a brass plug insert marked PROVED. S.J. Pillin could either be the maker or the retailer. Buying raw blades from sword makers and then etching and fitting them was a standard practice.

The sword comes with thin steel scabbard, which looks to have been lacquered at some point, which has now started to crinkle in the most lovely designs. The scabbard is in good shape, and looks to originally have been plated, but some of the plating is missing under the finish. The throat of the scabbard is also missing.

A very nice Victorian Era Military sword, ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:
Overall length: 37 3/4” 
Blade length: 32 3/4”
Basket dimensions: 4″ width x 4” length
Scabbard length: 33 3/4”