*British, 1827 Pattern Royal Navy Officer’s Sword & Scabbard with Knot, King’s Crown, Thurkle-Named Blade*
A British 1827 Pattern Royal Navy Officer’s Sword, complete with its original leather scabbard and gilt brass mounts. The sword has the correct gilt brass hilt with fouled anchor beneath a King’s Crown, folding inner guard, wire-bound fishskin grip, and original knot. The straight, single-edged blade with fullers is extensively acid-etched in the regulation naval style.The spine is numbered 6782.
The blade is decorated on both faces with long, shaped etched panels. At the forte is set the circular “PROVED / H” proof disc. Beyond this, the blade is etched with repeating oak-leaf and ropework panels, followed by a shaped cartouche enclosing a stylised bird holding a leafy branch, beneath which appears the lightly etched THURKLE name. This is followed by further oak-leaf and ropework ornament, leading to the Royal Coat of Arms beneath a King’s Crown, again separated by oak-leaf and ropework decoration. On the obverse, the ricasso is plain. Beyond this, the blade is decorated with oak-leaf and ropework panels, followed by the crowned fouled anchor, above which appears a radiating sunburst beneath a King’s Crown. The decoration continues with further oak-leaf and ropework ornament toward the point.
The “PROVED / H” proof disc is a recognised private trade proof, documented on Thurkle-associated blades and illustrated in specialist research, including the study by James Elstob (SwordResearch.org, Image Disc 025). Its presence is consistent with Thurkle manufacture or supply during the late 19th-century period, including the transitional years following the absorption of the Thurkle business by J. R. Gaunt & Son.
Approx. Measurements - Blade length: 80 cm. Overall length: 94.8 cm
Historical Note:
The 1827 Pattern Royal Navy Officer’s Sword was introduced to provide a uniform and durable sidearm for commissioned naval officers and remains the longest-serving regulation sword pattern in British military service. Private-purchase examples such as this were supplied by London makers and outfitters, often to a higher decorative standard than government-issued weapons. The Thurkle family was unusual among naval outfitters in that it also manufactured blades in-house, and swords bearing the Thurkle name continued to be supplied during the late Victorian period and into the early years of the twentieth century, including after the firm’s absorption by J. R. Gaunt & Son.
*Condition*
The blade remains straight and sound, with the majority of the etched decoration clearly visible. There is scattered age-related staining and light surface oxidation consistent with age and service use. The gilt hilt shows expected wear to high points; the grip binding is intact. The sword retains its correct Royal Navy officer’s sword knot, present and intact, showing expected age-related wear and patination consistent with the rest of the hilt. The original leather scabbard is complete and firm, with gilt brass mounts retaining an even aged patina and some thinning of gilding to raised areas. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
