1897 Pattern George V Infantry Officers’ Sword made by J. R. Gaunt and owned by Captain William Pringle.
Beautiful example of a WW1 Infantry Officers’ sword made by British maker J. R. Gaunt in October 1916.
83cm (32. 75”) straight dumbbell shaped blade rounded on the back and edge with a deep central fuller and spear point. The un- etched thrusting blade is stamped on the ricasso with the maker’s name, J. R. Gaunt, War Department broad arrow, bend test and inspection marks. The obverse ricasso is marked with the date, inspection stamp and the letter “N” The plated steel three-quarter basket hilt is stamped with the maker’s name and a crowned inspection mark. The hilt is decorated with a scroll pattern and pierced strap work incorporating a crown and the royal cipher of George V. The fish skin wrapped hilt has a partly hatched plated steel back strap, oval pommel and circular tang button.
The sword is complete with its polished brown leather field service scabbard.
The sword and scabbard are in very good condition for their age and service use. The blade is free from rust and only has some minor staining mainly along the spine. The hilt is undamaged and firm on the tang and the fish skin grip and wire bindings are in excellent condition with only minor wear commensurate with service use. The scabbard is in good condition with minor scuffing and the end of the leather frog strap is missing. The sword fits snugly into the scabbard.
This sword comes from the family of Captain William Pringle of the South Notts Hussars. During the Second World War, Captain Pringle commanded the 425 artillery battery, 107th (South Notts Hussars) Field Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery at Tobruk and was later (1942) captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war in North Africa, Italy and Germany.
The sword originally belonged to his father and was passed to him in 1936.
