EL6908 - A very interesting George V era composite officer's sword and scabbard. This sword must have been some sort of experiment or custom order put together perhaps around 1910-1918. The blade is a heavily modified and repurposed 1899 pattern regulation cavalry blade, with the edge ground right back to the fuller, resulting in a dumbbell section somewhat like the 1892 pattern infantry officer's blade, but with a slight curve instead of straight. The blade is now 32 inches long and carries the 1899 pattern designation to the spine and the Enfield Small Arms Factory manufacture and inspection marks. The blade is slightly bent in a couple of places. The hilt comprises a shagreen and wire grip, with fuller checkered curved back piece. I cannot identify a regulation sword pattern that this might have come from, so it is perhaps full custom made and the guard is certainly completely custom. In many ways the guard is the most interesting element, as it is a completely custom made symmetrical guard, incorporating the George V cypher and crown, and having design elements based on the 1885 pattern cavalry trooper's sword (the overall shape and the turned-over edges). The scabbard fits the blade perfectly and again appears to be a custom piece made or modified for this sword. The style of the scabbard strongly suggests this sword was for an officer rather than made as a regimental weapon. All in all this is a unique sword. The hilt is firm on the tang, with the very tiniest bit of movement in the guard. The sword could benefit from cleaning up, but is fundamentally in quite good condition. It has not been service sharpened.
