This is a fantastic example of a George III blue & gilt naval officer’s sword dating from between 1792 and 1797. The sword was hilted and retailed by William Drury of The Strand, London. The shortness of the blade made it ideal for close quarter combat on a ships' deck. It could also have been a sword for a young officer, boys as young as 12 having commissions purchased for them in the Georgian Royal Navy.
The 645mm slightly curved blade has a single-edge and is based on the Montmorency-style blade of the 1788 light cavalry sword. The blade has a flat spine above a wide, shallow fuller, with a shorter, deep and narrow fuller above it. The fuller runs into the narrow hatchet point which has been shortened by around 5mm as a result of repeated sharpening. The blade is double-edged for the final 100mm. The spine of the blade is engraved with “Solingen.”
The blade is in very good condition, retaining most of its blue and gilt with light speckled tarnish and small patches of shallow pitting. The blade is beautifully engraved on both sides with foliate scrollwork, stylised stands of arms and a bird (dove) holding a branch. This style of engraving is typical of late 18th Century German made blades.
The first third of the blade has been service sharpened and retains its fighting edge.
The gilt brass stirrup hilt with lion head pommel is in excellent condition and retains much of its gilt finish. The knurled ivory grip is in excellent condition and the blade is firm in the hilt.
The sabre is complete with its black leather scabbard with gilt brass mounts. The leather is in good condition with minor age related cracking and the stitching is intact. The locket bears a circular cartouche containing the cutlers’ details, “Drury, Cutler to His Majesty. Strand.” William Drury was a well renowned goldsmith and cutler. Drury, like other cutlers of the period would have imported the German made blade which he then hilted and made the scabbard.
This is a beautiful pre-regulation Royal Navy officer’s sabre from the late 18th Century.
