ELF157 - This is a highly unusual smallsword, with a blade featuring engraved and gilded decoration, incorporating the GR royal cypher, indicating it was presumably a Georgian period officer's military sword. This is unusual enough for a smallsword blade to carry military style decoration and a monarch's cypher, but in addition to this, the sword is fitted with a wrought iron and robust hilt. The guard and knucklebow are of a forge-welded solid construction, with the small dish guard being thick and forged as one with the finger rings and the rest of the guard. The pommel is matching wrought iron, and the rectangular grip is wrapped with thick copper twist wire. I can only presume that this was created for a British (or British Colonial) infantry officer who wanted to carry a strong smallsword on campaign. It has dark patina overall, but the gilding remains to a lot of the blade engraving, and the gold colour contrasts nicely with the black patina. The hilt is solid on the tang with no movement.
