Solid half-basket hilted sword. Hilt consists of a gilt brass solid half-basket guard which is larger than normal but otherwise of regulation pattern. It has a lion's-head pommel with mane extending half-way down the back-piece, and a white fish-skin grip bound with copper wire. The blade is straight and of rectangular or dumb-bell section. The scabbard is missing. There is an inscription on the blade: 'PATENT SOLID HILT'. This sword is part of the Spinney Collection (OP240) which comprises sixteen swords, five dirks and three pistols - AAA3114 (pair) and AAA3115.

The makers, Edwin and William Seagrove occupied premises at The Hard, Portsea from 1852 to 1859. Major Latham states in his book British Military Swords that the dumb-bell blade first appeared in 1892 so this blade is presumably a British copy of the 'Toledo' type though even that did not become widely popular until the 1880s in this country. The large non-regulation guard is presumably another example of a naval officer privately ordering a sword with greater protection than was common.