EL6519 - An 1856 pattern pioneer's short sword, by Mole, with the sawback deliberately removed. Quite unusual to find an example with a scabbard. The stitching to the back of the scabbard has gone, but the leather is supple and it is all complete otherwise, with various markings, including an 1886 manufacture date. Various other markings, including Mole's name to the chape, Birmingham proofs to the blade and War Department acceptance arrow. I don't know exactly why the sawback has been deliberately removed, but some people say this was done when these were issued as emergency ship's cutlasses.
