EL6288 - This sword has been constructed in period from an 1889 pattern sergeant's sword blade, reprofiled, with a pointier tip and service sharpened, and fitted to an 1897 pattern George V officer's hilt. I suspect that this was done by a regimental armourer from parts available to him, either by special request to order, or to make up for shortages. This would make for an interesting enough sword by itself, but unusually the blade has been engraved with the initials E.C.H. This MIGHT mean that the sword was put together for an officer, but I would still bet on this being a sergeant's sword. Either way, the result is a stout cut and thrust sword with the latest regulation hilt. The stamps on the blade show that it was made in 1901 by Wilkinson. The initials offer a fantastic research quest. The 31 inch blade is in good service sharpened condition, firm in the hilt. The hilt is in overall good condition, with a very good grip, but with some crackling to the nickel plating of the steel guard. The scabbard is present and was clearly made to go with this blade (which would originally have had a steel scabbard), though the leather is cracked and dry, repairing a bit of repair work. The hilt/backpiece looks very slightly out of alignment with the edge, though I have to say that it whistles through the air with easy enough alignment.
