EL6688 - A top quality infantry officer's service sword (probably a British officer in the British Indian Army), featuring a late-Victorian numbered blade (1845 pattern) by Pillin, which was updated to the new 1897 pattern hilt in Edward VII's reign (1901-1910). The blade features the officer's initials and has been service sharpened, so there is plenty of research potential with this sword and a good chance of matching the sword to an officer who presumably commissioned under Victoria and saw action, remaining in the Army into Edward's reign. The blade is in very good condition, with top quality etching and well sharpened. The hilt is in quite good condition, with an unusual separate brass ERI (suggesting Indian Army service) cypher inserted into the steel guard. This has separated a little from the guard along one edge, but seems to be holding firm. The field service scabbard has unfortunately lost the end, but that is not a very difficult job to repair or replace.
