EL6153 - A rare and desirable steel-hilted Wilkinson infantry officer's sword , numbered 15186 for 1867 and carrying the initials of Lieutenant-Colonel Octavius Allcard. If you look in the recesses of the beautiful steel guard, you can see the remains of the original gilding. Gilt steel hilts were an expensive option that some infantry officers started having from the 1850s onwards, because it provided a much stronger guard than the regulation brass, but once gilded still looked like a regulation hilt. Steel guards take longer to make, because they have to be cut and filed, rather than cast like brass. This sword has a long service life in the hands of Allcard:
Lt Colonel Octavius Allcard, 9th Regiment of Foot (East Norfolk).
Served from 1867 in Natal, Ireland, India, Burma, Gibraltar. Retired in 1895. Born October 1847, the child of William Allcard and Mary Allcard. Baptised 6/6/48 in St. Elphin, Warrington. Commissioned as Ensign 29/5/67. Joined 9th Regiment of Foot (East Norfolk). 1868 Cape of Good Hope. 1869 Cape of Good Hope. 1870 Natal. 1871 Dublin. Promoted to Lieutenant 28/10/71. 1872 Cork. 1873 Guernsey. 1874 Pembroke. 1875 (2) Rawul Pindee, Bombay. 1876 Aldershot. 1877 Colchester. 1878 Dublin. 1879 Birr. 1880 Kinsale. 1881 Limerick. The 9th becomes The Norfolk Regiment 1/7/81. Promoted to Captain 15/2/81. 1882 Subathoo, Bengal. 1883 Morar, Bengal. Possibly an acting Major from here onwards. Joined a grand lodge of Freemasonry (census lists him as a captain and having a house in Colchester). 1884 Morar, Bengal. 1885 Gosport. Promoted to Major 12/12/85. 1886 Gibraltar (embarked 12/12/85). 1887 Aldershot. 1888 Gibraltar (embarked 22/12/87). 1889 Gibraltar. 1890 Wellington, Madras. 1891 Wellington, Madras. 1892 Rangoon, Burma. 1893 Rangoon, Burma. 1894 Rangoon, Burma. 1895 Dugshai, Bengal. Promoted to Lt Colonel 28/11/95. Retires 4/12/95. 1909 to 1911 lived in Sussex. Died 1/5/1912 aged 64. Leaving £209. Last residence was 51 Marine Parade, Brighton.
The sword shows some signs of this long and successful career, having wear and some loss to the shagreen, and the gilding on the steel guard gone. But otherwise the sword is in good condition, with a clean blade, firm in the hilt, crisp etching and a light grey patina overall. The tang nut has a little crack in it (pictured), but seems secure and the hilt is tight. Sadly there is no scabbard.
A great sword to a high-ranking officer, with loads of research potential.
