A superb condition early numbered (5078) Wilkinson infantry officer's sword. Dating to 1854, the Wilkinson record shows that this was made for 'stock', meaning it was presumably displayed and sold through Wilkinson's Pall Mall shop. Sadly this means we'll never know who purchased it. Apart from being a very early numbered example in excellent condition, it also has the very rare feature of a steel and brass scabbard. At the time the regulation scabbard was leather and brass, but as the Crimean War happening at the time highlighted, the leather was prone to damage and rot. So one expensive option that Wilkinson offered was this type of scabbard, where the steel would have originally been blued or browned to look like leather. I am only aware of 4 or 5 of these still surviving, one of which I sold previously. The blade remains in high original polish, with superb etching. The hilt is in good shape, with almost perfect shagreen and wire grip. Everything is tight. A top notch example.
