Sword

Light Cavalry-Type Sword. The hilt consists of a gilt stirrup with langets, that on the obverse side has a foul anchor engraved at an angle of 45 degrees to the blade. There is a plain gilt pommel and back-piece and a knurled ivory grip. The blade appears very curved for a naval sword. It is a flat blade with a 203mm false edge. It has been frequently ground so that any engraving there might have been has disappeared. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets (with rings) and a chape. Each is perceived with an oval hole 21mm/11mm. A design of lines (six on the obverse and one on the reverse) passes round each oval and along the edge of the locket or chape. This design, reminiscent of a stripe and curl of a later era, is so similar to that on the scabbard of dirk WPN1059 to make it probable that this scabbard was also made by Tatham. This sword was presented to the Royal United Service Institution by Admiral Sir George Robert Lambert as the sword worn by Nelson at St Vincent and Teneriffe. It is extremely doubtful that the sword belonged to Nelson.

Object Details

ID: WPN1256
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Tatham
Events: French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Cape St Vincent, 1797; French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1797
Date made: circa 1800
People: Nelson, Horatio; Tatham
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Royal United Service Institution Collection
Measurements: Blade: 699 x 32 mm
Parts: Sword
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