Chinese sword, which belonged to Admiral Sir James Hanway Plumbridge (1787-1863). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt pommel and crosspiece with very short down-turned quillons, and a fluted brown grip. The hilt is ornamented with a design of bats, which are a symbol of good luck. The steel blade is straight and double-edged. The point of the blade has evidently been broken off; it is about an inch too short for the scabbard and is rather roughly ground. The wooden scabbard is covered with lacquered paper, and has four gilt lockets and a chape, which is ornamented with a design of bats. The two middle lockets are fitted with loops.

This sword was offered to the National Maritime Museum as the sword which was worn by Admiral Sir James Hanway Plumbridge when he was a Midshipman at Trafalgar. It is inconceivable that he wore a Chinese weapon at Trafalgar. He probably obtained the sword during one of his three commissions in the East Indies. Admiral Sir James Hanway Plumbridge (1787-1863) entered the Royal Navy on the 6th September 1799 and was a Midshipman in HMS 'Leda' in the expedition to Egypt in 1801. At Trafalgar he was acting 6th Lieutenant in HMS 'Defence', and on the 20th August 1806 he was confirmed in rank. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on the 7th June 1814. On the 29th April 1816 he was appointed Acting Captain of HMS 'Amphitrite', returning to England in her in the following year. After further service he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 9th October 1822. He became a Rear-Admiral on the 7th October 1852 and was third in command in the Baltic in 1854. He received the K.C.B. for his role in the Baltic Campaign. He was Admiral Superintendent of the Devonport Dockyard between 1855-1857 and became a Vice-Admiral on the 28th November 1857 and an Admiral on the 27th April 1863. He died on the 29th November 1863 at Hopton Hall, Suffolk.