This is a rare 1845 pattern British infantry officer’s sword dating to between 1848 and 1849.
What makes it rare? Answer: The maker.
The sword was made by Wilkinson of London, but not the Wilkinson Sword Company.
Mr. H. Wilkinson shared both the initial and surname of the famed Henry Wilkinson of the Wilkinson Sword Company, Pall Mall. London. And therein lay the problem.
In 1848, H. Wilkinson established a premises in Cockspur Street, no more than 100 metres from the Pall Mall address of the Wilkinson Sword Company and proceeded to trade on their established reputation, signing his work as H. Wilkinson, Cockspur St. London and including the Wilkinson Sword Companies’ 1844 proof stud invention on the ricasso of his swords.
H. Wilkinson of Cockspur Street was in business as a sword maker for a year at most. When his wares and activities came to the attention of the Wilkinson Sword Co., the company took legal action against him for “Passing Off,” the Victorian equivalent of Copyright or Trademark infringement.
H. Wilkinson of Cockspur Street, London was soon out of business. He had managed to trade from 1848 until 1849. After less than 12 months he was closed down and the swords he had made became curiosities and then collectors’ items. Henry Wilkinson, head of the real Wilkinson Sword Company kept one in the reception display at the companies’ headquarters. A trophy of war perhaps?
Now-a-days these swords are rare and sought after.
The 815mm blade is of typical 1845 Wilkinson form with a flat spine and broad, three-quarter length fuller. The slightly curved blade terminates in a spear point and is double-edged for the final 300mm. The blade has been repeatedly service sharpened and shows wear, use and sharpening scratches. Given the time period, it is possible that the sword was used in the Crimean War (1853-1856).
The blade is etched on both sides with a crown and Queen Victoria’s Royal cypher amidst scrolled foliate panels. The ricasso bears the maker’s details, “Wilkinson, Cockspur St. London.” The obverse ricasso bears a brass proof stud containing the word “Proved” over a Fleur de Lis. In 1844, the genuine Wilkinson Sword Co. invented a test for the quality and strength of their blades, called the “Eprouvette.” Blades that passed this stringent quality test were marked as proved and given a brass proof disk.
The blade is in good condition, it is bright and rust free, showing a few tiny edge nicks, sharpening wear (a slight narrowing due to repeated sharpening) and scratches and some patches of light tarnish. The blade retains its original leather washer and is firm in the hilt.
The Gothic brass guard is of typical 1822 pattern with a folding section. The guard bears Queen Victoria’s cypher and is in generally good condition. The shagreen and twisted wire are intact and showing age related wear and some loss. There is a crack in one of the bars but the guard is firm and there is no movement in the cracked bar. Interestingly there is a piece of shaped and contoured ivory inlet into the stepped brass pommel. This is not a repair but was done purposefully and soon after the initial production of the sword. I have not come across this before and am unsure as to why it was done.
The sword is complete with its original scabbard. This is an interesting variation on the typical leather and brass scabbards. This scabbard is made of steel with gilded brass mounts. The steel was painted to mimic the leather of the early pattern scabbards. Again, this is not something that I have come across before. I wonder whether it is unique to H. Wilkinson? A unique selling point perhaps? Either way, the scabbard is far more robust than the early leather scabbards.
The scabbard has been refurbished and is in good condition with minor dings and dents. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly.
This is a good example of a rare collector’s sword by a short lived but notorious maker, showing evidence of a working service life. Possibly carried by an officer in the Crimean conflict.
