Lot 77
77
An Early 19th Century Naval Officer's Sword and Dirk
An Early 19th Century Naval Officer's Sword and Dirk

Details
An Early 19th Century Naval Officer's Sword and Dirk

An officer's light-weight sword of 1805 Pattern, with 26¾in. straight narrow fullered blade, originally blued and gilt, retaining engraved decoration, cast gilt-brass hilt with knucklebow guard bearing crowned Anchors in langets, and chequered wire-bound ivory grip (no scabbard), in a carved wooden box of modest quality, bearing a card inscribed Horatio Nelson's Sword; together with a dirk with 18¾in. plain curved blade, ridged bone or ivory grip, a crude brass crosspiece and monster's head pommel, the backpiece engraved Horatio Nelson RN, in leather scabbard with brass locket and chape.
See illustration overleaf (2)

Lot Essay

Despite the inscriptions relating to Lord Nelson evidence suggests that neither of these items belonged to him. Swords of this pattern would barely have entered service before Nelson's death, while the dirk is of the type used between 1835 and 1850. Neither weapon is of the quality associated with Nelson's known possessions.