EL6127 - An absolutely top quality Royal Navy officer's sword, to a named officer who served through WW1, by Wilkinson.
Naval officers swords of this period don't get much better than this - it is top quality, being a Wilkinson, but additionally it is their 'best quality' etching and proof with the hexagonal proof slug, and it is their special more robust fighting hilt design. This style of hilt does not have the folding inner drop like most naval officer's swords, but instead has a broader solid guard, with the scabbard catch passing through a hole in the guard near the quillon. This secures the sword in the scabbard and prevents it dropping out.
The blade is bright and with superb extra-detailed etching, with ropes and oak leaves, with only a few small dark blemishes to the surface. It is firm in the hilt. The hilt is in equally excellent condition, with bright gilt surfaces and the white shagreen and gilt wire in excellent condition - almost like new. The scabbard is also in good condition with only minor wear to the leather.
This was the sword of Commander Kenneth Maximilian Wilkinson (24 January 1893 – 6 November 1936), Royal Navy. His initials are etched on the blade. He became a Midshipman in 1910, Acting Sub-Lieutenant in Sept 1913, Sub-Lieut in Nov 1913, Lieut in July 1915, Lieut-Commander in July 1923 and Commander (retired) Jan 1933. He received a Royal Humane Society medal in bronze on 30 March 1914 for attempting to save the life of a drowning crew member of H.M.S. Brisk. He seems to have served on H.M.S. Revenge during the Battle of Jutland and during his career served on many ships, including Brisk, Superb, Revenge, Tetrarch, St. Vincent, Courageous, Valkyrie, Wallflower and King George V.
There is lots of research potential with this sword and the sale includes a little bit of starting research from the Public Records Office. This sword could also be used by a serving Royal Navy officer and its quality and construction is without parallel in modern-made swords.
