A Royal Navy officer’s sword and scabbard dating between 1847 & 1856

The Royal Navy officer’s sword has the solid basket hilt with crown and fouled anchor device, full maned lion’s head pommel, and turn down plate to the back of the hilt. The fish skin grip with wire binding remains in good condition and some of the original gilt finish remains. The leather of the scabbard is in much better condition than usual. The sword can be dated to after 1846 as that was the year in which the pipe-back blade was replaced by the more efficient Wilkinson blade. Although the 30½ ins blade is in reasonable condition the etching is very weak but fortunately the sword cutler’s mark of J. SELBY, HIGH ST., PORTSMOUTH remains. The scabbard is key to dating the sword because the method of hanging the sword from the belt also changed in 1847 with the introduction of two rings on the locket to allow the sword to hang straight. This was found difficult when officers were in boats and the second ring was moved again to the central locket in 1856. The scabbard mounts also have additional line decoration which was previously reserved for officers of  flag rank. In this case the scabbard has the supplier’s name on the top locket P. & S. FIRMIN, 153 STRAND & 13 CONDUIT ST. LONDON. The firm of Philip & Samuel Firmin changed its name to Firmin & Sons in 1849 which suggests that the sword and scabbard were supplied in the late 1840s. There are two small white marks on the edge of the hilt [probably paint] but I very seldom clean things and this sword has been in my private collection for around the last 25 years.   sep25/1

This. and related patterns are very well described in May & Annis: Swords for Sea Service HMSO 1970