Victorian British Indian Officer’s sword of 1897 pattern

The 1897 pattern sword has a 32½ ins blade of light or piquet weight with the lesser width at the forte of 1 and 1/16 inch. It has the standard blade but both the royal arms and cypher are surmounted by an imperial crown rather than the standard Victorian one of the hilt cypher. The etching is now rather faint because of cleaning in use. The field service scabbard has the long chape which has a splash of green paint to one side. It is etched  on the ricasso with the maker’s name ROBT. MOLE & SONS, BIRMINGHAM. MAKER TO THE WAR & INDIA OFFICES and the blade is marked M 4410.  A very honest sword awaiting which woukld probably respond well to some cleaning and tlc.   sep1/1   SOLD 28th March 2024