A rare Victorian 1857 pattern Royal Engineer Officer’s sword with an 1892 pattern thrusting blade. This sword was made as a commission by Robert Mole of Birmingham.
Army Dress Regulations did not require Officers of Engineers to adopt the 1892 pattern blade so very few Engineers swords were produced with the thrusting blade.
The 820mm thrusting blade is of dumbbell form, having a symmetrical cross section with a flat spine and belly and a short, broad central fuller. The blade becomes wedge shaped for approximately two-thirds of its length and terminates in a narrow spear point. The 1892 blade is the ultimate thrusting design and its use continues today with the current, 1897 pattern hilt.
The high-quality blade is deeply etched with foliate scrollwork, a Tudor crown above the Royal coat of arms and the motto of the Royal Artillery, “Ubique” over a field gun. The obverse is etched with the crowned cypher of Queen Victoria and the motto, “Royal Engineers” above crossed laurels and palms.
The ricasso bears the maker’s details “Made by Robert Mole & Sons Birmingham for the Army & Navy Cooperative Society, London. The obverse bears Mole’s shooting stars proof disc. The spine is stamped with the Mole serial number M1944.
The blade is in very good to excellent condition with crisp, deep etching. There are speckles of tarnish towards the point, mainly on one side.
The gilt brass, acanthus leaf guard is in very good condition. The shagreen wrapped grip is in great condition and the wire binding is intact and tight. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its plated steel scabbard with two suspension rings. The scabbard is in very good condition with some small spots of tarnish. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a great example of a rare Royal Engineer Officer’s 1857 pattern sword with the 1892 blade.
