EL6763 - An Edward VII era officer's sword, extensively service sharpened. This sword is a bit of an enigma. It is from the estate of Major-General Gilbert Minto Elliot, MC DSO (Royal Artillery), like item EL6762, but it is not known for certain who this sword belonged to. Major-General Gilbert Minto Elliot was not commissioned into the Royal Artillery until 1915 (in George V's reign) and his father Colonel Robert Henry Elliot was in the Indian Medical Service (so would have had a brass 'Gothic' hilted sword in theory). At first sight this seems to be a Royal Artillery officer's sword, but there is no artillery etching on the blade, and the area with Edward VII's cypher seems to have been added later and the previous etching eradicated. I suspect that therefore this blade is actually late-Victorian, and the VR cypher was replaced with Edward VII when he came to the throne. Moreover, the blade is 34.5 inches long, which is a little shorter than most Royal Artillery officers' swords at this time (they are usually 35 or 35.5 inches), so I believe that the hilt may have been changed around this time also. Therefore, it is possible that this blade was originally on a different model of hilt - perhaps for Colonel Robert Henry Elliot. It is possible that this was updated for Gilbert Minto Elliot to use as an officer of Royal Artillery, before he acquired the Wilkinson (EL6762). In any case, these two swords are from the same estate and somehow related. This sword was retailed by J R Gaunt of London, who took over Edward Thurkle's sword making business in 1897. We can therefore say that the sword blade is certainly no earlier than 1897, and if it is in fact all Edwardian then it dates to 1901-1910. It is possibly the first sword of Major-General Gilbert Minto Elliot MC DSO (see item EL6762). It is a good quality sword in very good condition, good enough for modern parade. The service sharpening is professionally done, perhaps in India, across the full bevel, leaving a fine and sharp edge (though eradicating the etching on the edge bevel). The hilt is in equally good condition, with all the plating, shagreen and grip wire intact and firm. Complete with the original service scabbard, frog and slings.
