EL6891 - The 1845 pattern General Staff Officer's sword of Colonel Henry Blundell-Hollinshead Blundell CB DL. Made by Wilkinson (numbered 16800 for 1870 - proof record attached), in excellent condition and solid provenance. Henry Blundell-Hollinshead Blundell became Aide-de-Camp to His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar in 1870, and that is when he ordered this sword for that purpose. It is a rare occasion in sword research where the ordering of a sword exactly matches the known career of an officer. Henry Blundell-Hollinshead Blundell was commissioned in 1855 as an Ensign in the Rifle Brigade, serving in the Crimean War and then moving to Canada during the Trent Affair. He subsequently transferred to the Grenadier Guards. Between 1870 and 1871 he served as Aide-de-Camp to His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, and afterwards became Assistant Adjutant-General of the Home District at the Horse Guards in 1877. He received the brevet of Colonel 1 April 1881, and in 1884-5 served with the Nile Expedition, for the relief of General Gordon, on the Staff as Inspecting Officer of the Lines of Communication, and afterwards as Commandant at Dongola, for his services being Mentioned in Despatches and receiving the medal, with clasp and the Khedive's Star. He was admitted to the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in 1887 and retired on 24 June 1889. You can read more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Blundell-Holli...
The sword is in excellent condition, with all the original mirror polish and frost etching remaining to the blade. There is just a tiny bit of damp staining at the base of the blade. The blade is firm in the hilt. The leather washer is in place. The hilt is in excellent condition and the original leather guard liner is remaining, as well as the original sword knot. The brass scabbard has many wear-related dents and dings, commensurate with having been worn on official duties on horseback and on foot during a long career.
